BY PRINCE GOLEZ
Manila Reporter
ILOILO City – So-called “presidentiables” are making their presence felt here today as President Benigno Aquino III inaugurates two major infrastructure projects and 1,000 housing units for informal settlers worth over a billion pesos.
Among those accompanying the President is Interior and Local Government Secretary Mar Roxas, long touted to be a possible standard-bearer of the ruling Liberal Party in the 2016 elections.
Vice President Jejomar Binay, who has never been coy about his plan to seek the presidency, is also here today albeit for a different set of activities. He is not expected to join Aquino’s group.
Roxas was here just last week. He graced the 9th Congress of the Student Council Alliance of the Philippines at Central Philippine University.
President Aquino will also inspect today the ongoing construction of the Iloilo Convention Center in Mandurriao district.
At 10 a.m., he is expected to arrive at the Jaro Bridge II in Brgy. Ungka for the inauguration of four bridges along Iloilo Circumferential Road.
The P2.1-billion Circumferential Road is some14 kilometers long. It is an alternative highway expected to ease the flow of traffic in Iloilo City and suburbs, and hasten the transport of goods.
Aquino will also be joined by Sen. Franklin Drilon, Public Works Secretary Rogelio Singson, Budget Secretary Florencio Abad, Mayor Jed Patrick Mabilog, Cong. Arcadio Gorriceta of Iloilo’s 2nd District and Gov. Arthur Defensor Sr.
At 10:40 a.m., the President will proceed to Mandurriao. He will be briefed about the Iloilo Convention Center located at the Iloilo Business Park.
According to Drilon, the P700-million convention center will put Iloilo City on the map as a tourist destination.
It is expected to host two ministerial meetings of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation Summit next year.
Mark Lapid, general manager of the Tourism Infrastructure and Enterprise Zone Authority; Andrew Tan, chairman of Megaworld Corp.; and Regional Director Edilberto Tayao of the Department of Public Works and Highways will assist the President.
At 11:15 a.m., Aquino will join at least 100 bikers at the expanded Sen. Benigno Aquino Jr. Avenue (Diversion Road) in Brgy. San Rafael, Mandurriao .
The avenue has been provided with bicycle lanes on both sides.
The widening of the highway named after the President’s father has a budget of some P550 million.
The President will proceed to the Iloilo River Esplanade where he is set to deliver a speech.
The esplanade is a showcase of government efforts to transform what was once deemed to be a dying river into a tourist attraction and a viable economic proposition.
At 1:50 p.m., President Aquino is expected to inspect completed housing units at the Iloilo River Plains Subdivision, Phase 1 in Brgy. Lanit, Jaro district.
Beneficiaries of the housing units worth P170 million are the informal settlers who used to live along the Iloilo River.
In a previous interview, Drilon said the President will also be updated on the P11.2-billion Jalaur River Multi-Purpose Project (JRMP) Phase II in Calinog, Iloilo.
The project, when completed, is expected to generate 17,000 jobs and triple rice production in Iloilo to 360 metric tons per hectare per year./PN
