WHERE there used to be only the rustling of mangrove leaves, birdsong and the gentle breeze from the river, a new destination now draws residents and visitors seeking relaxation, recreation and a spectacular view of the setting sun.
The Iloilo River North Bank Road, popularly known as the Iloilo Sunset Boulevard, has emerged as one of the attractions that Ilonggos can proudly call their own.
Stretching about seven kilometers and linking Barangay Tabucan in Mandurriao, Iloilo City to Barangay Cagbang in Oton, Iloilo, the boulevard provides motorists with an alternative route while opening a scenic space where people can walk, jog, cycle or simply pause and watch the sunset.
Since it opened to the public in January 2025, the boulevard has become particularly popular among young people and families drawn to its river views, mangroves, coastal landscape and refreshing atmosphere.
For Germene Cabra of Jaro district, visiting the boulevard has become a way to unwind after a busy day.
“Relaxing gid kung makakadto ako diri. Kanami sang ambiance, makita mo gid ang river, sunset kung hapon, kag presko pa ang hangin. Kanami lang sang feeling kung ari ako di. Daw may peace of mind kag maka-refresh ka. Bisan naga-walking ka lang, ma-appreciate mo gid ang view diri,” Cabra said.
For Cabra, the experience becomes even more enjoyable with the variety of street food sold by vendors along the area.
She also noticed the regular presence of personnel from the Iloilo City General Services Office, who monitor the area and help ensure cleanliness and proper food-handling practices among vendors.
A livelihood along the boulevard
Beyond leisure and tourism, the Sunset Boulevard has created opportunities for residents living near the area.
As more people began visiting the boulevard, local residents saw an opportunity to earn additional income by setting up carts and selling food and refreshments to visitors.
Among them is Melchor Macarimbang of Barangay Calumpang, Molo district, who sells fish balls and “inasal” with his wife.
“Daku gid nga bulig ang pagbaligya kay kung wala ni, wala man kami income. Amo lang ni ang amon palangabuhian ni misis,” Macarimbang said.
The couple puts up around P5,000 to P6,000 in capital for their daily business. When sales are good, their total earnings can reach P8,000 to P10,000.
“May ara man kami madala nga ginansya sa amon pamilya especially kung damo tawo kag manami ang tiempo. Pero kung mag-ulan ulan gani, hina gid ang baklanay kay ang mga tawo wala man diri pagkadto,” he said.
Christian Vergara of Barangay Airport in Mandurriao, meanwhile, sells sweet corn along the boulevard.
For Vergara, one of the advantages of the business is that he can earn without having to travel far from his family.
“Okay lang ang kita naman. Kis-a may ara man nga sobra, may ara man nga insakto lang. Pero okay lang diri nga magbaligya kay lapit lang, kaysa magpalayo ka sa pamilya mo,” Vergara said.
He started selling street food when the Sunset Boulevard opened and has since witnessed how the area gradually attracted more visitors.
For vendors like Macarimbang and Vergara, the boulevard is more than just a scenic destination. It has become a source of income that allows them to support their families while remaining close to home.
They also look forward to the “ber” months, when cooler weather and generally favorable conditions encourage more people to visit the area and enjoy the sunset.
Infrastructure with a purpose
The Sunset Boulevard is not only designed as a recreational destination. It is also a major infrastructure project intended to improve mobility and connectivity between Iloilo City and nearby communities.
The P2.261-billion multi-year project, which began in November 2021, includes a five-kilometer, four-lane Portland Concrete Cement Pavement road connecting Barangay Tabucan to Barangay Cagbang. It passes through the Iloilo Business Park and intersects with the Iloilo Circumferential Road (C-1).
The project was undertaken by the Department of Public Works and Highways as part of efforts to decongest traffic and provide safer and more reliable transportation infrastructure.
Its design incorporates features intended to balance mobility, recreation and environmental considerations.
Among these are a one-meter-wide median island equipped with solar-powered LED lighting; slope protection through stone masonry; reinforced concrete pipe culverts for drainage; sidewalks and bike lanes with ornamental solar LED lighting; and landscaped areas featuring fire trees and golden shower plants.
A four-meter-wide esplanade provides space for pedestrians, while two 1,152-square-meter flat-slab bridges feature shared bicycle paths.
Four viewing decks also give visitors elevated vantage points from which to appreciate the surrounding river, mangroves and coastal landscape.
These features have helped transform what was once primarily an infrastructure corridor into a public space where people can enjoy nature without leaving the city.
More than a road
For Iloilo, the Sunset Boulevard represents how infrastructure can serve purposes beyond transportation.
It provides motorists with an alternative route, gives residents a place for exercise and recreation, attracts visitors and creates opportunities for small entrepreneurs.
Most importantly, it has become a place where people can slow down and appreciate Iloilo’s natural beauty.
The Iloilo Sunset Boulevard thus stands not merely as a road connecting communities, but as a symbol of Iloilo’s continuing transformation: a public space that connects people, creates opportunities and gives Ilonggos another reason to take pride in their city./PN
