Iloilo braces for 5 tourism development sites

THE City Government is pursuing the development of five tourism development areas (TDAs) in Iloilo as soon as Congress approves the sites, whose funding will be taken from the Tourism Infrastructure and Economic Zone Authority (Tieza).

Mayor Jed Patrick Mabilog said development works have started in the five TDAs, and the City Government is just waiting for Senate concurrence for funds to be available for their conversion as important tourist attractions in the city.

A five-year tourism development plan of the city was also completed by the Research, Education and Institutional Development Foundation (REID) and the Iloilo Business Club (IBC) to strengthen Iloilo City as an important tourism destination in the country.

The development plan is seen to enhance the cultural and heritage tourism experience through city tours anchored on the Iloilo River.

City tourism officer Benito Jimena said the Tourism Action Program for Iloilo City (Tapic) is a blueprint for city tourism development from 2012 to 2016.

The study was funded by The Asia Foundation and United States Agency for International Development (USAid) as an initiative under the Partnership for Better Infrastructure and Tourism Development Project.

The city tour circuits cover Molo, La Paz, and the city proper with two river zones to complement the program. These are Iloilo River Zone I along the Muelle Loney and Iloilo River Zone II along La Paz district.

Mabilog said the five TDAs are the historic Fort San Pedro, which is currently under rehabilitation by the Department of Public Works and Highways, Plaza Libertad fronting the new City Hall building, Calle Real or the central business district (CBD) starting with façade rehabilitation of some old heritage commercial buildings, Jaro Plaza and Molo Plaza.

Rehabilitation of the Molo Plaza was recently completed. Soon to follow rehabilitation are Plaza Libertad and the Jaro Plaza.

The rehabilitation of three heritage commercial buildings at the CBD such as the Serafin Villanueva and Eusebio Villanueva buildings were also completed, while the Javellana building is next in the priority list.