ILOILO — While he will skip President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr.’s fifth State of the Nation Address (SONA) this July 27 due to a prior provincial commitment, Gov. Arthur Defensor Jr. is hoping the President will use the occasion to reaffirm the administration’s support for the province by highlighting major infrastructure and agricultural projects expected to transform Western Visayas.
Defensor said he has a scheduled meeting with development partners on Monday to follow up on planned provincial programs, preventing him from attending the SONA at the Batasang Pambansa in Quezon City.
Despite his absence, the governor expressed confidence that Iloilo continues to enjoy strong support from the Marcos administration.
“Mas maayo nga ara ang Iloilo kag bisan indi pag-mensyonar sa SONA, again waay man kita diri ginapabay-an. We are being prioritize by the administration,” Defensor said.
Among the projects he hopes will be highlighted are the Jalaur River Multipurpose Project II (JRMP II) in Calinog town, the proposed Panay-Guimaras-Negros (PGN) Link Bridge, and the proposed Iloilo-Capiz-Aklan Expressway (ICAEX), also known as the Panay Expressway.
Defensor particularly emphasized the importance of the ICAEX, saying the expressway would significantly improve mobility and economic activity across Panay Island.
“Mas maayo gid kung madumdoman sang President ang ICAEX. We we really need that for Iloilo,” he added.
The proposed 210-kilometer, four-lane controlled-access expressway is designed to connect Iloilo, Capiz, and Aklan through elevated roadways, viaducts, a tunnel, and a long-span bridge.
Once completed, it is expected to slash travel time across Panay, decongest existing national highways, and improve the movement of goods from production areas to markets.
The Iloilo entry point is planned in Barangay M.V. Hechanova, Leganes town, near the proposed Panay-Guimaras Bridge approach.
On agriculture, Defensor said he also hopes the President will underscore continued investments in the sector, citing the recent inauguration of nearly P350 million worth of post-harvest modernization facilities of the Department of Agriculture-National Food Authority (DA-NFA) Region 6 in Dumangas, Iloilo.
“Maayo gid kun matagaan focus ang agriculture naton. I had a brief conversation with Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. kag nabal-an naton kun ano ang plano ‘ya,” Defensor said./PN
