QC vice-mayor Joy Belmonte to netizens: “tama po kayo mali po ako”

Quezon City Vice-Mayor Joy Belmonte welcomed all the criticisms directed to her by netizens for failing to suspend classes in QC despite the strong rain and wind due to Typhoon Gorio last Thursday (July 27, 2017)

In a Facebook post, Belmonte acknowledged her shortcomings for not calling off classes:

“To all concerned citizens ((tama po kayo mali po ako – CNN kasi sinabi sa akin dami kong bashers kaya yan ang naalala kong word – mali po ako)

This time I welcome all the hate and the vileness of your messages. I truly deserve it. While we have a DRRMC that discusses with me their recommendations, I really ought to have asked Myke more probing questions. For example, from their experience how accurate have the PAG-ASA/DOST advisories been? Is it possible for the DRRMC to delay the declaration of class suspension by an hour or so to get a better picture or must we really stick to the 4 am deadline as per national policy? Had we allowed ourselves some additional time, we would have received the later PAG-ASA advisories stating some new developments in the weather that they admit they did not foresee earlier. And could we also not have changed our minds given the new data?

But I salute the BRRMCs for taking on my earlier position that they take responsibility also for the schools in their areas of responsibility. Hence Sta Lucia and Dona Imelda, naturally flood prone barangays, declared suspension as early as we declared classes. Bravo to you and to your principals.

In the meantime for all the parents who made judgment calls not to send their kids to school, I also thank you for your good instincts. Sometimes we in government depend too much on data and statistics and not enough on gut feel. And you did the right thing. I salute you.

And to all the concerned citizens, thank you. For the first time, i truly appreciate all of you for your nasty comments. Truly deserved. I bow to you and I admit to my weaknesses and shortcomings in this situation. Now it is time to make amends to our children and their parents. It’s time to step up for them. They deserve much better than me. They deserve a better leader.

The DRRMC will make the announcement through official channels. In the meantime, Mayor Abby Binay of Makati and Mayor Bobby Eusebio of Pasig, both cities who, like Quezon City, reserve their announcements based on the latest PAG ASA advisories, and who also did not suspend classes, I know you understand where we were coming from.”

(Photo source: Facebook – @Joy Belmonte)