AFTER more than a month of home stay or lock-out as they call it to avoid the virus epidemic, we are glad to go out last weekend for our routine medical check-up with our doctor who holds clinic at a local hospital.
En route to the hospital we were glad to note of the orderly traffic of private vehicles on the streets. We saw no passenger vehicles yet.
We noted that our streets have remained clean and well maintained. There were still very few vehicles on the road, and no people walking yet on the streets.
Even at the hospital, they limited the entry of people at the main door only and there was no queue at the doctor’s clinic. We immediately got attended to. Do you mean that less people got sick during the virus scare?
We remember the column we wrote way back on Nov. 19, 2019 with the title, “Ilonggos in Metro Manila Should Come Home”.
With the recent total lockdown in Metro Manila brought about by the scare of virus infection, Ilonggo families there should reconsider the idea of coming home. Our cities and towns have remained clean and it is not so costly to live here in the province compared to that in Metro Manila.
Even for those engaged in business in Metro Manila or other parts of the country, we cite again two recognitions won by our city last year to justify your decision to consider Iloilo again in your future expansion plans:
1) Proclamation of our city in November last year by the Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PCCI) as the “Most Business-Friendly Urbanized City in the Philippines; and
2) Air travel to and from Iloilo is facilitated by Iloilo’s international airport. Our airport was ranked 18th and recognized as “Best of Asia Airports”.
Another good news also is the one shared by our own Sen. Franklin Drilon that many multinational companies are planning to move out from China, but he does not see that our government is extending enough effort to invite them to our country.
We would like to ask our good senator if he would encourage Iloilo to invite them directly if the national government does not yet make any move?
Maybe, Iloilo can send a trade mission for the purpose.
Well, we are glad that Iloilo has not been severely affected by the pandemic. Let us continue guarding our boundaries and shores.
Maybe we can open up jobs and businesses now but with great care and physical distancing so as to avoid infection and risks from the virus.
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GEM OF THOUGHT
“Reach for the moon.” – If you reach for the moon, you are very ambitious and try to achieve something even if it is difficult.
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