The Betty Go-Belmonte Research Grants Program (Ordinance No. SP-3174, S-2023) provides funding support for high-quality research to enhance the lives of Filipino citizens, particularly those residing and working in Quezon City. 

Named after the late journalist and newspaper publisher Billie Mary “Betty” Go-Belmonte, the BGB Research Grant Program honors her legacy of truth, critical inquiry, and public service by empowering scholars to contribute knowledge that benefits the community.

It is open to Filipino undergraduate and postgraduate students who are residents of Quezon City and/or enrolled in a higher education institution (HEI) in Quezon City, as well as Filipino academic professionals who teach or serve as faculty members of an HEI in Quezon City.

The program allows team applications composed of up to seven (7) members, including the Principal Proponent, who is the lead applicant and the designated point of contact. 

For student teams, the principal proponent must be a resident of Quezon City and/or enrolled in a higher education institution (HEI) in Quezon City. 

For academic professional teams, the principal proponent must be a teaching staff or a service faculty member of an HEI in Quezon City.

Applicants must submit the following requirements:

• Verified QCitizen ID
• Government-issued ID and Proof of Enrollment (for students)
• Faculty ID and Certificate of Employment (for academic professionals)
• Curriculum Vitae
• Research Proposal
• Endorsement from the Department Chair, Unit Head, or Research Committee Head
• Ethics Clearance from any reputable HEI’s Research Ethics Committee or Board (if applicable)

Templates may be accessed here.

Interested research proponents may apply online through the BGB Research Grants Program module on the QC eServices website. The program can be found and accessed under the category ‘School and Education.’

Research projects are eligible for funding if their objectives directly contribute to Quezon City’s development or align with the city government’s 14-point agenda and provide actionable insights or research outputs for Quezon City. 

Studies that address root causes of issues or contribute to the implementation and improvement of the city’s key initiatives will be prioritized.

The criteria for evaluating grant applications are as follows:

• Significance and Relevance
• Originality and Local Adaptability
• Technical Merit and Methodology
• Feasibility of Implementation
• Competence of the Research Proponent(s)

An interview may be requested by the LGU-Academe Secretariat for further clarification or evaluation. This may be conducted online or in person.

In line with international academic standards, all outputs derived wholly or in part from this research grant shall remain the intellectual property of the Principal Proponent. The Quezon City Government must be acknowledged in any dissemination or publication of the research findings. Publication rights shall be shared between the principal proponent and the Quezon City Government.

Each research project may receive up to Php 100,000.00 in cash, along with additional support capped at Php 20,000.00 each for: 

• books or instructional materials;
• Health, insurance, and transportation; and
• Printing, reproduction, and dissemination of research 

Funding will be released within the year of the call for proposals, subject to the city budget cycle and accounting regulations.

The Principal Proponent is required to submit regular progress reports, including updates on accomplishments or milestones, along with corresponding financial liquidations supported by official receipts and accountable forms. These reports shall be submitted based on the schedule in the approved proposal, but in no case less than twice a year or as required at specified intervals.

Grant funds may be used for eligible research-related expenses, such as specialized equipment, software, laboratory supplies, and other materials that are directly necessary for the conduct of the approved research, subject to the Program Guidelines and approved budget. All proposed expenses must be justified and are subject to evaluation and approval by the Secretariat. 

The fellow is responsible for any applicable tax obligations arising from the engagement of project personnel or other allowable expenditures, in accordance with existing laws and regulations.

The following expenses are not eligible for funding:

• Office or space rent and utilities;
• Staff salaries, wages, or honoraria;
• Personal devices
• International travel or travel not directly related to the approved research;
• Printing, binding, or reproduction costs that are not directly related to the approved research

Any item deemed by the Secretariat to be unrelated to the research project’s activities will be removed from the funding request. All proposed expenses shall be reviewed by the Secretariat for eligibility, and if approved, classified under the appropriate funding category in accordance with the Program Guidelines.

Applicants may apply to the program more than once, provided they have a good track record based on the successful completion of their first grant; propose a new and relevant research topic or pursue subsequent phases of ongoing long-term research, and do not have two active grants from the Quezon City Government. However, applicants are strongly encouraged to apply not more than once per year to allow other candidates the opportunity to benefit from the grant.

The Principal Proponent may submit a written request for an extension of the research project timeline under justifiable circumstances. However, any approved extension must not exceed the original project duration and must not require additional funding for the program.

Failure to complete the research, particularly in cases of severe and unjustified delay, may result in the cancellation of the grant, and the proponent may be required to return unutilized funds.  The release of remaining tranches of funds shall also be withheld until the final research output is submitted and accepted. Failure to comply with project requirements may affect eligibility for future grant applications.