ILOILO City – The Iloilo City Government is poised to carry on and even surpass its remarkable performance and accomplishments in 2023 for this new year 2024.
Mayor Jerry P. Treñas is giving a heads-up to all city hall employees, especially the department heads, as the city government is set to continue, implement and complete more important programs and projects.
“Let us start the new year with renewed vigor and dedication to serve our people,” said Treñas.
“We have implemented and will continue to implement various programs and projects like roads, school buildings, and other important facilities like the Iloilo City Action and Response (ICARE) centers, free dialysis centers, and other pro-poor programs. We assure that the taxes people are paying are spent on these necessary facilities,” the city mayor emphasized.
INFRASTRUCTURE PROJECTS
Treñas said the remaining works for the redevelopment of public plazas and markets, including the Iloilo Central and Terminal markets, as well as the construction of the state-of-the-art Iloilo City Legislative Building and Iloilo City Government Center one-stop shop, are targeted to be completed this year.
Also to commence this year is the construction of the seven-level lloilo City Parking building beside the city hall.
Aside from the existing functional ICARE centers, more will be completed this year.
Located in strategic areas, ICARE centers house emergency frontline offices in one roof, bringing emergency services closer to communities. This one-of-a-kind initiative aims to lower response time for any emergency whether police, fire trucks or an ambulance is needed.
The five operational ICARE stations are in Barangay Calumpang, Molo district; barangays Balantang and Ungka in Jaro district, Barangay Sooc, Arevalo district, and the ICARE Command Center in Gaisano City Center in Mandurriao district.
Three more are under construction and will be completed this year. These are located in Barangay Tanza Esperanza, City Proper; Barangay Nabitasan, La Paz; and Iloilo Business Park (Megaworld).
The city government has also implemented several road projects such as concreting and widening of roads and rehabilitation of drainage system.
HEALTH AND WELLNESS
Another focus of the city government this year is to strengthen its nutrition program for children.
With the nearly-completed Iloilo City Nutrition Center on General Luna Street, City Proper, the city government is partnering with the Department of Science and Technology (DOST)-Western Visayas, and the Florete Group of Companies and Bombo Radyo Philippines for the production of enhanced nutribun (e-nutribun) and other nutritious complementary feeding mix.
Treñas emphasized the importance of having sufficient nutrition in the overall well-being of children.
Part of the plan is to convert a portion of the center into a nutrition production facility and nutrition-related clinic of the City Health Office.
In the first quarter of this year also will commence the conversion of the temporary molecular laboratory into the Uswag Iloilo City Clinical Laboratory and Diagnostics Center.
This facility will house ultrasound, electrocardiogram (ECG), and X-ray machines, as well as facilitate routine blood tests like complete blood count (CBC) and blood chemistry, among others, and screening for diseases such as Tuberculosis (TB) and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) – all accessible to indigent city residents at significantly reduced fees compared to private health facilities.
Mayor Treñas stressed that health will remain a priority this year.
A mega health center will soon be constructed in Arevalo district with assistance from the Department of Health (DOH).
Seen to alleviate hospital occupancy, this facility will offer various hospital equipment and services, including birthing, laboratory services, TB-DOTs, animal bite center, and dental services.
The ongoing construction of the five-storey Level 2 Iloilo City Hospital and Medical Arts building in Barangay San Pedro, Molo district is likewise a priority project of the Treñas administration. It aims to address the healthcare needs particularly of indigent residents of the city.
Similarly, the city government is actively addressing the mental health needs of residents through various programs and interventions under the Ginhawa 2.0 Program.
Aimed at providing proactive and effective solutions to mental health issues in the community, it has been re-launched and has already benefited thousands of Ilonggos.
Last year, one of the landmark achievements of the city government was the operationalization of its Uswag Dialysis Center 2 in Barangay San Isidro, Jaro.
With Uswag Dialysis Center 1 in Barangay Baluarte, Molo, the health facility provides free treatment for indigent recipients in the metropolis who are battling kidney diseases and the costly clinic or hospital fees and services.
EDUCATION
As part of its commitment to education, the city government also targets to establish district libraries and reading hubs.
Those established already are the main library at the Graciano Lopez Jaena Learning Center in Jaro and a temporary one in Sta. Filomena in Arevalo.
The city government also transformed the second floor of daycare centers in Barangay Quintin Salas, Jaro; Barangay Nabitasan, La Paz; and Barangay Rizal Pala-Pala, City Proper into a library.
The permanent library for Arevalo district – the Chief Justice Ramon Avanceña Public Library – is almost complete and expected to be operational within this year; while other libraries will be established in a community center in La Paz and on General Luna Street, City Proper.
The city government also built modern daycare centers or Early Child Care Development (ECCD) centers. To date, there are a total of 202 daycare centers in the city.
The city government’s Uswag Scholarship Program has also served thousands of poor but deserving students in the city. Last year, it was able to help 2,200 scholars.
Meanwhile, in 2023 alone, the city government was able to implement and complete the construction of various infrastructure projects under Special Education Fund (SEF) amounting to a total of P217 million.
Among these projects are the P44.9-million four-storey 16-classroom building (Phase 1) in La Paz National High School (NHS); P40.9-million three-storey 12-classroom building in Nabitasan Elementary School (proposed Integrated School) in La Paz; P25-million two-storey eight-classroom building also in Nabitasan Elementary School; P12.3-million construction of Ramon A. Avanceña Learning Center; P11.9-million construction of two-storey school P.E. facility with demolition of Mandurriao NHS; P6.9-million two-storey eight-classroom of Fort San Pedro National High School; and P4.9-million repair of classrooms of S. Abeto Elementary School in Arevalo.
Aside from school buildings and facilities, last year’s accomplishments of the city government included the completion of a two-storey building with complete basic facilities in Barangay Dungon A, Jaro amounting to almost P5 million. This was sourced from the Local Government Support Fund – Support to the Barangay Development Program (LGSF-SBDP).
For 2024, among the ongoing education-related projects under SEF include construction of two-storey six-classroom building with demolition at E. Juntado Elementary School in Molo amounting to P23.9 million; construction of two-storey 30-classroom building at TCT-AR Foundation Integrated School in Lanit, Jaro amounting to P100.9 million; and the construction of three-storey nine-classroom building at Tabucan Elementary School in Mandurriao amounting to P34.9 million.
ENVIRONMENT
Aside from the improvement and greening of public plazas and open spaces in partnership with private sector, the city’s environmental efforts also focused on massive mangrove and tree planting especially of native tree species.
One thing to look forward to is the completion of the Tree Park Network in Barangay Lanit, Jaro and Beach Forest in Molo, Boulevard Mangrove Eco-Park, and the ongoing Iloilo Roadside Native Tree Growing Project.
The city clustered barangays have also sustained the JPT Ediscape Communal Gardens; while the Koi Pond in La Paz Plaza continues to bring enjoyment to the community.
LIVELIHOOD AND WELFARE
The Treñas administration initiated a livelihood program especially among market vendors dubbed as Uswag Negosyo Academy (UNA).
UNA, through the Local Economic Development and Investment Promotion (LEDIP) Office, has partnered with selected government agencies and private sector in providing trainings and seminars on work ethics, service quality and digitalization to hundreds of market vendors.
Through Department of Labor and Employment’s Tulong Panghanapbuhay sa Ating Disadvantaged/Displaced Workers (TUPAD) program, many Ilonggos have also been employed.
Moreover, the city government continues to provide low-cost housing units to city hall employees, indigents and informal settlers of the city. The Iloilo City Local Housing Office was created last year to supervise, manage and facilitate the housing program.
The Uswag Low-Rise Residential building for city hall employees in Barangay San Isidro, Jaro is now around 60 percent complete and will be completed within this year.
SUSTAINABILITY
All the city government’s efforts are geared towards its goal to be the Top 3 Most Liveable, Sustainable and Resilient Highly Urbanized City in the Philippines by 2028.
To sustain its effort in providing accessible services, the city government partnered with malls in establishing one-stop payment centers such as in Mary Mart, Atrium, SM City, and Festive Walk.
This and other initiatives have earned the city the Most Business-Friendly Local Government Unit distinction in the country.
The Iloilo City Government also takes pride in garnering big national and international awards and recognitions last year which include:
* UNESCO Creative City of Gastronomy
* Three-time Gold Awardee for Mobility
* Rank No. 1 Most Competitive Highly Urbanized City in Western Visayas and Top 4 nationwide
* 23rd Gawad Kalasag Beyond Compliant Awardee
* Department of Tourism 2023 Pearl Awardee for Best Cultural Festival for Dinagyang Festival/PN
