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[av_heading heading=’‘CHANGE THE PERCEPTION’ Drilon challenges Ilonggos: Counter negative tags ‘ tag=’h3′ style=’blockquote modern-quote’ size=’30’ subheading_active=’subheading_below’ subheading_size=’15’ padding=’10’ color=” custom_font=” av-medium-font-size-title=” av-small-font-size-title=” av-mini-font-size-title=” av-medium-font-size=” av-small-font-size=” av-mini-font-size=” admin_preview_bg=”]
BY GLENDA SOLOGASTOA
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ILOILO City – “Change the perception.” This was Sen. Franklin Drilon’s challenge to Ilonggos during a multi-sectoral forum that sought to strengthen investors’ confidence and boost business climate in this city.
He shrugged off speculations that President Rodrigo Duterte’s tirade against Iloilo as “most shabulized” was actually aimed at him as an opposition leader.
“I do not know about that…That is unfortunate if that is true because through no fault of the Ilonggos, they are the ones who will suffer. I hope it is not true,” said Drilon.
Drilon is one of the senior leaders of the Liberal Party whose standard-bearer in last year’s national elections, Mar Roxas, defeated Duterte in Western Visayas.
“We have to change the perception created by (the President’s) calling (of) Iloilo (as) the most shabulized city,” he said, warning that “kaluluoy man ang aton banwa kon pabay-an.”
The tag could undermine Iloilo city’s and province’s efforts to attract investors, said the Ilonggo senator.
This, in turn, could affect “our ability of provide jobs to our people” and contribute to poverty, he said.
Shabu is methamphetamine hydrochloride. Police said it is the most popular illegal drug in the country.
“We owe it to our youth that we try to respond to this challenge of putting back Iloilo’s image to where it should be,” said Drilon at Friday last week’s forum “Diin Ka Pakadto, Iloilo (Where are you going, Iloilo?)” organized by ILED.
Duterte also repeatedly tagged Drilon’s cousin, dismissed city mayor Jed Patrick Mabilog, a drug protector – a charge that the former city chief executive vehemently denied.
Drilon lauded the Iloilo Economic Development Foundation, Inc. (ILED) for spearheading efforts to do just that by, among others, preparing for an investment forum in Metro Manila on March 15, 2018.
ILED, composed of Ilonggo representatives from the business community, recently launched the “Proud to be Ilonggo” campaign to shore up the pride of the Ilonggos to take responsibility for their own community.
Drilon urged Ilonggos to “create a solid economic foundation that can outlast any upheaval in the years to come.”
ILED wanted Iloilo to sustain the unprecedented growth it had experienced through multibillion-peso investments from multinational and local corporations and the backing of massive infrastructure development by the national government.
“We hope that this event (multi-sectoral forum) will pave the way for a successful investor conference while creating an empowered citizenry,” said ILED chairperson Narzalina Lim, former Tourism secretary.
At the forum, Panay Electric Company chief communications officer Mikel Afzelius and Metro Pacific Water vice president for corporate strategy Atty. Eriberto Calubaquib also vowed to improve power and water distribution in Iloilo City.
Architect Paulo Alcazeren, who designed the Iloilo River Esplanade, talked about the redevelopment of the Iloilo provincial capitol grounds and the extension of the river esplanade.
“Let us continue telling everyone that Iloilo is still in business and progressive,” said Lim in a previous interview. “Iloilo is peaceful and conducive for doing business.
She lamented “recent disturbing events (that) have attempted to tarnish the good image of Iloilo when it has been chosen by various groups as one of the most liveable places in the Philippines, one of the best places to invest in, and as a model of good governance.”
Lim said Ilonggos should craft their “own destiny and work together as self-reliant private citizens; to continue the upward trajectory that the city and province have been experiencing these past 10 years.”/PN
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