Holistic approach urged for Iloilo City’s continuous growth

ILOILO CITY -- Iloilo City has made huge strides in the past years, but efforts have to be sustained to bring it “back to its former glory days by having a holistic approach to development”.

This was the message of Ilonggo Senator Franklin Drilon, the guest of honor during the oath-taking ceremony of the newly-elected officials of Iloilo City at the Iloilo Convention Center (ICC) in Mandurriao district here on Friday.

“We shall continue our efforts to bring Iloilo back to its former glory by having a holistic approach to development. By building the infrastructure, we stimulate commercial activities that will boost employment and improve the standard of living of our kasimanwa (fellowmen),” he said.

He urged Mayor-elect Jerry P. Treñas to lead the way, bringing with him the full faith and trust of Ilonggos in his leadership, as he focused on” addressing some of the challenges that stand in the way of our development”.

Among these are issues on power distribution and water, the need for port facilities and developing the city as a destination for meetings, incentives, conferences and exhibitions (MICE).

“More than ever, the Ilonggos must stand and work together shoulder to shoulder to reclaim the title 'Queen City of the South', which we lost a century ago,” Drilon said.

Drilon also bared some of his plans such as the renovation of the Iloilo Customs House to be converted into a maritime and war museum and putting up a wall at the Sunburst Park where names of veterans who liberated Iloilo at the end of the World War

II will be etched.

One of his thrusts in partnership with the incoming city officials is also to revive Iloilo’s art and culture.

“By promoting arts and culture, we also enrich our society and general wellbeing of our people,” he said.

Meanwhile, the newlyelected officials led by congresswoman-elect Julienne Baronda, Treñas and reelectionist vice mayor Jeffrey Ganzon took their oath of office before Ilonggo Supreme Court Justice Francis Jardeleza.

They were joined by reelectionist councilors Lady Julie Grace Baronda, Jay Treñas, Lyndon Acap, Ely Estante, and Eduardo Peñaredondo and newlyelected councilors Jojo Javellana, Rommel Duron, Allan Zaldivar, and Rudolf Ganzon.

In her inaugural speech, Baronda detailed some of her plans for Iloilo City to include the passage of a law that will declare this city as a Special Economic Zone and Freeport, increasing the bed capacity of the Western Visayas Medical Center to 700 beds, amend provisions of the Senior Citizens Act, set a higher honoraria for barangay health workers, and push for the Magna Carta of Barangay Tanods, among others.

“I will work hard for our city not because of myself. I will work hard for Iloilo City because of my daughter and also because of your sons and daughters,” she said.

Incoming Mayor Treñas, meanwhile, revealed his plans to “make this premier city even better”.

The WHEELS roadmap covers plans for Welfare, Health, and Sanitation, Education, Environmental Management, Livelihood, and Sustainability.

“This Iloilo City Roadmap: WHEELS for inclusive development program will combat the many challenges we face in our city. As soon as we overcome them, we will rise further, reach greater heights of excellence and eventually bring Iloilo City to the next level,” he said.

The ceremony was held in a jampacked Iloilo City Convention Center attended by bigwigs in the business sector, barangay officials, city residents, supporters, as well as family and friends of the elected officials.