ILOILO – The planned Smart Green Government Center in Santa Barbara town has secured a major funding boost.
The Tourism Infrastructure and Enterprise Zone Authority (TIEZA) committed P250 million for the construction of a six-storey parking building at the sprawling provincial government complex.
TIEZA chief operating officer Mark Lapid made the commitment during his inspection of the ongoing development of the Iloilo provincial government’s Smart Green Government Center in Barangay Bolong Oeste, Santa Barbara on September 15.
The proposed multi-level parking facility will be positioned at the main entrance of the government center and is envisioned to provide convenient access for people transacting with government offices within the complex.
In exchange for TIEZA’s funding support, Lapid requested that a dedicated space within the government center be provided for a new TIEZA office.
Before the site inspection, Lapid met with Gov. Arthur Defensor Jr. at the Iloilo Provincial Capitol, where the governor presented the government center’s development plan.
Lapid and Defensor subsequently proceeded to the construction site together with provincial government department heads, including Public Information and Community Affairs Office chief Jose Nereo Lujan, Provincial Tourism Officer Aulynn Yue Sin, Acting Provincial Engineer Jeb Escarilla and Acting Provincial Planning and Development Office head Mary Rose Matucan.
Santa Barbara mayor Dennis Superficial also joined the inspection.
Defensor showed Lapid the ongoing developments at the site, including the six-storey Multi-Purpose Building Phase I, which is intended to house national government agencies providing essential frontline services.
The Smart Green Government Center is being developed on a 6.3-hectare property owned by the Iloilo provincial government.
Designed as a comprehensive one-stop government service hub for Ilonggos, the expanded master plan goes beyond government offices and includes a convention facility, sports stadium, mall and various commercial spaces.
Lapid’s inspection followed his meeting with Defensor in July, when the governor sought TIEZA’s assistance in completing the ambitious government center project.
At the time, Defensor particularly sought the agency’s support for the proposed convention facility, which remains in the pipeline.
The latest P250-million commitment for the parking building marks a concrete funding pledge from TIEZA toward the continuing development of the provincial government’s envisioned integrated service and comercial hub in Santa Barbara./PN
