IN her current standing being the foremost leader of the largest and wealthiest city, it’s rare for someone of her stature to humble herself and offer a personal apology to her constituents—especially over matters that are sometimes beyond her control, particularly when it comes to the vagaries of the weather.
That’s Quezon City Mayor Joy Belmonte, who didn’t think twice expressing regret following a letter from an obviously exasperated local high school student over the city government’s apparent lapses particularly in announcing class suspensions at the height of nonstop rains triggered by the southwest monsoon or ‘habagat.’
Acknowledging the oversight, she vowed to reform the local government’s class suspension protocols as she appreciated the student’s honesty and thoughtful way in sharing his concerns which she said was the “exact kind” of discourse that the local government hopes to see from the QCitizens.
Belmonte told Good Riddance that she immediately met with the department heads and district action officers wherein they reviewed its class suspension policy.
Emphasizing the safety of the students, she said it would further strengthen the alternative learning delivery mode to ensure that no student is left behind in lessons whenever there’s a typhoon or bad weather.
Moreover, she said they’re also studying the conversion of barangay facilities, city libraries, and parts of shopping malls as learning spaces whenever classes are suspended.
The mayor admitted, however, the limitations of data and forecasting in the face of lived experience.
“Believe me, I understand where you are coming from. I know that when all is said and done, no scientific explanation or data can erase what our students experienced in the rain and flood,” she said in her reply to the student’s letter.
Belmonte cited a forecast outlook which indicated that rain would arrive later in the day—projected as occasional light to moderate showers.
“We suspended afternoon classes as soon as the Yellow Warning was issued. Unfortunately, we couldn’t remedy the situation for the students who had already come in for the morning session,” she lamented.
She reflected on the difficulty of balancing real-time data with on-the-ground realities as she acknowledged that weather patterns have become increasingly erratic.
May your tribe Mayor Joy B multiply!
