ILOILO City – Today four more sections of the Iloilo Esplanade would be opened to the public.
These four new phases are from the Iloilo Bridge (also known as Diversion Bridge) from the Diversion Road or Sen. Benigno Aquino Jr. Avenue to Muelle Loney in the City Proper overlooking the Iloilo River.
Ilonggo senator Franklin Drilon will lead the inauguration.
The Iloilo Esplanade’s first phase, 1.2 kilometers long from Sen. Benigno Aquino Jr. Avenue to Carpenter’s Bridge in Mandurriao district, was opened to the public in August 2012.
Today’s inauguration of four more completed phases would bring to 8.1 kilometers the total length of the esplanade.
The inauguration program starts at 7:30 a.m. at the newest completed phase, in front of Grand Xing Imperial Hotel.
The Iloilo Esplanade, a pet project of Drilon, is part of efforts to rehabilitate the 15-kilometer Iloilo River and maximize its economic and tourism potentials.
Since its inauguration in 2012, the esplanade has become a popular recreational space for walking, jogging, open-air dining and venue for river water sports, said Drilon.
It has also been cited as “Best Landscape Architecture” by the National Commission for Culture and the Arts’ National Committee on Architecture and the Allied Arts.
Yesterday Drilon urged Ilonggos to protect the esplanade after learning that vandals have been ruining portions of it and even stealing streetlights.
“I urge the Iloilo City police to be more vigilant in arresting these people. Ang mga binugoy nga opisyo nga kawaton ang mga suga…vandalism would not bring us anywhere,” said Drilon./PN
