Rotary International backs Quezon City’s community center plan

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December 30, 2025 | 12:00am

MANILA, Philippines — The Rotary International in Quezon City has expressed support for the local government’s plan to establish a community center that will benefit civic organizations in the city.

In a statement over the weekend, Rotary International District 3780 governor Veronica Yu disowned the decision of the Rotary Center Foundation Inc. (RCFI) to file a case against the local government over the lease of the city’s property in Barangay Paligsahan.

Last week, the city government ordered the closure of the community center operated by the RCFI for lack of the necessary permits.

According to city hall, it was the Rotary International District 3780 that entered into a 25-year lease contract with the local government involving a property located at the corner of Roces and Mother Ignacia Avenues.

The lease contract expired on June 30, 2020, with public records showing that the two buildings constructed on the property were funded by the local government.

“After the expiration of the lease agreement, the city government conducted monitoring and inspection and found that the buildings were being occupied and used by the RCFI without permission from the Quezon City government. The local government has no agreement with RCFI,” city hall said.

It was also discovered that RCFI entered into various agreements with private commercial establishments for the use of the buildings in exchange for payment or rent, without the consent of the Quezon City government.

City hall noted that the RCFI supposedly collects rental payments from businesses using the property even if the lease agreement only required a payment of P1 per year to the local government.

The city government opted not to renew the lease agreement.

Yu said the local government supports the plan to expand the Rotary center building into a community center “where all Rotary Clubs and other civic organizations in QC may freely use the facilities to serve the people of Quezon City.”

“We want to clarify that Rotary International District 3780 is separate and distinct from RCFI. It is not recognized by Rotary International and does not represent Rotary International nor the 108 Clubs of Quezon City,” Yu said.

Yu said the foundation filed the legal action against Mayor Joy Belmonte without her consent.

The RCFI reportedly accused Belmonte of failing to honor a city council resolution that authorized her to renew the lease contract for the property.

The city council, however, clarified that the resolution was not a directive for Belmonte to renew the lease.