Mabilog: High hopes for premier Iloilo

ILOILO City Mayor Jed Patrick Mabilog said recently that the target of the city to become premier in the country by 2015 may come earlier in 2014 as the city embraces fast developments.

Mabilog made the assessment following the recent launching of a big road project amounting to P300 million, aside from the ongoing widening of the Jaro-Leganes road that costs P200 million.

Other development projects within the city are the ongoing construction of the roll-on-roll off and fast craft wharves near the mouth of the Iloilo River by the Philippine Ports Authority (PPA) and the Department of Transportation and Communications (DOTC).

Mabilog said that soon to be constructed is the Iloilo ferry terminal for pump boats plying Iloilo and Guimaras by a public-private partnership, while the river wharf adjacent to the ferry terminal will also be constructed by DOTC.

Mabilog said Iloilo is now an excellent place to visit and his administration is out to regain the title of “Queen City of the South” as development projects continue unabated with the help of the city’s benefactor, Senator Franklin M. Drilon.

Mabilog said the government is also building a modern Iloilo Convention Center costing P450 million with funds from the priority development assistance fund of Drilon and from the Tourism Infrastructure Enhancement Zone Authority.

Among other projects include the modern Iloilo City Hall, city community college, city district health centers, city hospital annex at the Western Visayas Medical Center, city mangroves and bird sanctuary, the restoration and enhancement of heritage buildings at old Calle Real and the soon to be reconstructed city business district, he said.

Mabilog said the city projects are different from the national projects initiated by Drilon that include, among others, the almost P2 billion circumferential and radial roads, including five bridges, road widening in Jaro to Leganes and the P11.2-billion Jalaur River Development Project out to push the province of Iloilo as the top rice producer in the country by 2015. (Lydia C. Pendon)