ILOILO — The Iloilo provincial government has begun preparations to relocate 71 families who will be displaced by the construction of an access road leading to the proposed Iloilo Government Center, a flagship development project envisioned to transform a 6.3-hectare provincial property in Santa Barbara town into a modern government hub.
Gov. Arthur Defensor Jr. said the affected households are being considered for relocation to a provincial government-owned property in Barangay Agusipan under the Purok Resilience Program.
The relocation plan comes as the provincial government accelerates work on the road network needed to connect the future government center site spanning Barangays Bolong Oeste and Inangayan.
To secure additional support for the project, Defensor met on June 2 with 2nd District’s Cong. Kathryn Joyce Gorriceta, former congressman Mike Gorriceta, and Santa Barbara’s Mayor Dennis Superficial.
During the meeting, the governor sought assistance for the completion of the access road, portions of which are already under construction.
While the provincial government has already begun construction, funding is still needed to finish approximately 600 meters of the road to fully connect it to the site.
Gorriceta assured governor that she will prioritize funding for the completion of the access road and expressed her full support for the government center project.
The Department of Public Works and Highways – Regional Office 6 is currently carrying out site development activities, including drainage excavation, roadway embankment, and the construction of drainage and slope protection structures.
Phase 1 of a six-story multi-purpose building has also begun.
Earlier, Defensor disclosed that the project received a P100-million allocation under the 2024 General Appropriations Act for the building’s first phase, while additional funding requests have been submitted to the national government.
The planned government center is designed as a state-of-the-art facility integrating sustainable architecture, smart technologies, and efficient government operations.
Defensor also said the project may eventually be opened to private-sector participation due to its substantial funding requirements.
Provincial officials expect the area to attract hotels and commercial establishments because of its proximity to the Iloilo Golf and Country Club and the Iloilo International Airport in Cabatuan town./PN
