QUEZON City Mayor Joy Belmonte said that the kind of leadership one is espousing and not gender would always make effective and good governance as “there was no such thing as male dominance in many aspects including politics and public service.”
Mayor Belmonte, in a recent interview in time with International Women’s Month celebration, said that many women like her are already in the forefront specifically in public service that excel like their male counterparts.
She believed that what’s more important was not the issue of gender but the kind of leadership one is championing for the people he/she is serving.
“Women have different kind of leadership as compared with men, they tend to be more conscientious-driven, consultative, less confrontational, like to dialog, communicate and solve problems without conflicts,” said the mayor who said she’s never experienced being discriminated for being a woman even when she was already in public office.
“I have a vision for Quezon City where I try to live a life with dignity and integrity. When people respect you regardless of gender, you would get the result that you want.”
Known for being a reform-oriented mayor, she also observed that not all leaders would value the voice of others “or value the things that are important to everyone.”
“When I entered politics, there were those who didn’t want change. That’s why I became a progressive mayor, I changed the direction and it’s hard but I had wanted to make sure that the people’s voice was heard and public funds were spent wisely,” she said.
“What’s important is you are a leader who is credible, trusting and convincing as well as exemplary in what you do,” said Belmonte, a known human right and environmental advocate who continues to receive several awards and recognitions locally and internationally for her administration’s advocacy.
Debunking the ‘myth’ ‘to empower women,’ Belmonte advised the younger women to discover the power inside of them.
