ILOILO City – Expanding the Iloilo Esplanade up to Fort San Pedro or the mouth of the Iloilo River could dislocate a lot of businesses and workers, warned Mayor Jose Espinosa III.
Speaking at the meeting of the Iloilo-Batiano River Development Council (IBRDC) yesterday, Espinosa said he won’t allow the ongoing expansion of the esplanade to reach the Parola area.
“We conducted a survey. Thirty-six companies are doing business or using the area such as San Miguel Corp., cement and fertilizer companies. Their dislocation, including their many workers, would adversely affect the city’s revenues and worsen unemployment,” said Espinosa.
The Iloilo Esplanade started out as a 1.2-kilometer walkway/embankment of the Iloilo River from the Sen. Benigno Aquino Jr. Avenue (Diversion Road) in Mandurriao district to Carpenter’s Bridge in Molo district. It was inaugurated in Aug. 19, 2012 and has since become a recreational space for walking, jogging, open-air dining and venue for river water sports.
A parallel embankment was constructed on the other side of the river (Esplanade 2).
Work on phases 3 to 9 are ongoing. According to Assistant Regional Director Al Fruto of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) that is implementing this project, Phase 9 is until the Muelley Loney area (Iloilo River Wharf) in the City Proper.
“If we extend the esplanade up to Fort San Pedro, wala na ta sang area for ships and barges to load and unload sang ila goods and effects,” said Espinosa.
What should rather be done immediately is dredge the wharf up to the mouth of the river because the area has become heavily silted, he stressed.
The siltation could result to the grounding of ships berthing at the wharf, said the mayor.
The Philippine Ports Authority (PPA), National Economic and Development Authority, Philippine Coast Guard, and the private sector shared his sentiments, according to Espinosa.
“The PPA itself said the dredging is an urgent need,” he said.
Fruto said they would follow the mayor’s lead.
He also said the portion being referred to by Espinosa was part of the port delineated zone. It stretched from the monument of the late British Vice Consul Nicholas Loney to the mouth of the river.
“It is being operated by the PPA as a river wharf. We have not placed interventions,” clarified Fruto.
The nine Esplanade phases are expected to cover around 6.9 kilometers. (With a report from the Philippine News Agency/PN)
