September 17, 2010
Lydia C. Pendon - Sun Star Iloilo)
STAKEHOLDERS in priority infrastructure projects for Iloilo City are banking on a strong public and private partnership (PPP) and wider citizen participation.
A presentation and copy of the report on the proposed P2.2-billion infrastructures for the next six years were received by Congressman Jerry Treñas, City Mayor Jed Patrick Mabilog and Provincial Board Member Jett Rojas, representing Governor Arthur Defensor for the six Metro Iloilo Guimaras Economic Development Council (MIGEDC) municipalities.
Ma. Lea Victoria Lara of the Iloilo Business Club (IBC) said possible funding will come from the General Appropriations Act of the National Government to be included in the medium term development plan of the Department of Public Works and Highways.
Other funding sources may come from foreign assistance or from private investors and stakeholders.
The report, which was turned over during a ceremony at the Sarabia Manor Hotel Friday, summarizes the initiatives of IBC to assist the legislative district under Treñas in identifying necessary road projects that can wield strong economic impact to the city constituents.
IBC received technical assistance from the Research Education and Institutional Development (Reid) Foundation, supported by the United States Agency for International Development (USAid) through The Asia Foundation.
The stakeholders recognize that the partnership for better infrastructures is part of an ongoing effort to increase citizen participation on governance to sustain economic growth and decongest Iloilo City.
John Avila, cognizant technical officer of USAid, said they are ready to render technical assistance to PPP, especially on tourism projects that will help put Iloilo on the tourism map.
Ky Johnson, deputy country representative of the Asia Foundation, also batted on wider citizen participation in promoting good governance in the local government units.
Reid president Enrico Basilio also wants to promote PP in an open, competitive and transparent process, especially in the roll-on, roll-off (Roro) expansion to help the Philippines in the Asean Roro network.
The infrastructure projects are the P1.6-P1.9 billion Circumferential Road I endorsed by the Regional Development Council in 2004 that covers 14 kilometers road and five bridges starting at the Iloilo-Antique road up to the Iloilo coastal road.
Also included in the IBC report are road and bridge projects that will catalyst the urban development in Metro Iloilo area, such as the three-kilometer Jaro-Leganes Road worth P281 million from Jaro to Calle Progreso in Leganes; the 3.5-kilometer Radial 4-Bypass 2 road from Mc Arthur Drive Bridge up to Leganes worth P240 to P280 million; and the P174 million road from Jalandoni Bridge to the diversion road with construction of road and Dungon Bridge.
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