The Quezon City Government is strengthening people-centered governance by giving citizens a meaningful role in shaping the City’s budget and priorities through City Ordinance No. SP-3520, S-2026.

The ordinance institutionalizes participatory budgeting, enabling accredited civil society organizations (CSOs) and residents to help identify community needs, review proposed programs, monitor project implementation, evaluate results, and provide feedback.

This ensures that budgeting is not solely an internal government process. By listening directly to the people, the City can design more responsive programs, allocate public funds more effectively, and deliver services that address the actual needs of QCitizens.

“Quezon City residents know the needs of their communities best. Through participatory budgeting, we are giving them a meaningful opportunity to help decide where public funds should be allocated,” Mayor Joy Belmonte said.

“In this way, we can develop programs that truly respond to the needs of QCitizens and ensure that every centavo contributed by the people is returned through honest and efficient public service,” she added.

The City will also develop digital mechanisms that will allow residents to submit recommendations on programs and projects that should be prioritized for funding.

Participatory budgeting was piloted last year in 11 frontline departments and offices, where accredited CSOs reviewed budget proposals amounting to approximately ₱6 billion.

The ordinance forms part of Quezon City’s commitment under the Open Government Partnership to strengthen transparency, accountability, and public participation in local governance.

The City Finance Committee and the Quezon City OGP Local Steering Committee will prepare the implementing guidelines and conduct capacity-building activities for city offices and accredited CSOs.

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