ILOILO CITY – Members of the Iloilo-Batiano River Development Council reconvened for the first time this year to discuss items and issues last taken on March 6, 2015 council meeting.
The meeting was jointly presided by Senator Franklin Drilon and Iloilo City Mayor Jed Patrick Mabilog.
Among the issues discussed were seeking out cooperation and committed government agency members as well as private sector for projects anchored on the Iloilo and Batiano rivers.
The river starts from Iloilo City up to the southern municipality of Oton, Iloilo.
Drilon alloted P5 billion for major road infrastructures and other projects to the city up to the boundary towns of Leganes, Zarraga, Pavia, Sta Barbara, San Miguel and Oton.
The senator also assured his continued assistance to the city and municipalities especially a housing project for dislocated families in Oton.
On the other hand, the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) assured the fund for its core shelter project of 355 housing units of homeless beneficiaries at the city owned lot at Brgy Sooc, Arevalo.
The National Housing Authority reported the agency is providing a counterpart fund of P25 million or P104,000 per housing unit based on the approved NHA Work Program and Budget on the revised memorandum of agreement forwarded to the City Government last August 14, 2015 for review.
DSWD is funding P70,000 for each unit, thereby bringing to a total of P174,000 cost per housing unit. NHA will also provide the road network at the 3.5 hectares lot.
Under the revised agreement, the City Government will provide the funds for the balance amounting P12.06 million from the city’s loanable and subsidy amount of P12.5 million.