ILOILO City – The city government is embarking on a massive rehabilitation of its district plazas to make them true people’s public spaces that are not only beautiful but also safe and promotes healthy urban living.
B. Jaro Plaza 
C. Plaza Libertad
“They are being restored because we want to make them accessible and welcoming,” said Mayor Jerry Treñas.
Plazas, he stressed, are environments for public interaction and exchange of ideas that impact the quality of the urban environment and living.
The mayor had been dreaming of improving the city’s plazas back when he was a congressman.
Coordinating with the Tourism Infrastructure and Enterprise Zone Authority, the National Museum and the National Historical Commission of the Philippines, he initiated an integrated development plan for a cultural heritage tourism zone that included public plazas.
Treñas subsequently authored Republic Act 10555 – “An Act Declaring the Jaro Cathedral, Molo Church, the Iloilo City Central Business District, Fort San Pedro, Jaro Plaza Complex, Molo Plaza Complex and Plaza Libertad Complex…as Cultural Heritage Tourism Zone”.
City Architect Regina Gregorio said the revitalization of the district plazas aims to bring back community patronage and appreciation of public open spaces where “‘everyone knows every Juan’, a diminishing trait in an urbanized society.”
The city government initially allocated P190 million for the redevelopment of the district plazas of Jaro (P90 million), La Paz (P60 million) and Arevalo (P40 million). But the historic Plaza Libertad – known as Plaza Alfonso XII during the Spanish colonial period – is the first to undergo a major redevelopment using over P19 million from the Local Government Support Fund – Assistance to the Cities.
Plaza Libertad was where Spanish colonial forces surrendered to Ilonggo revolutionaries on Dec. 25, 1898, earning Iloilo City the moniker “Last Spanish Capital in Asia.” Its rehabilitation, together with the plazas of Jaro and Arevalo, is expected to be completed before the fourth quarter of this year.
Because Plaza Libertad is just across city hall, the area connecting them has been paved and now doubles as an “assembly area” for some outdoor activities of the city government such as the regular Monday flag-raising ceremony, among others.
Arevalo’s plaza will be complimented by another project – a two-storey P42-mllion multipurpose gym.
As to Molo’s plaza, the Jaro Plaza belfry, rehabilitation of the Graciano Lopez Jaena Shrine in Jaro and Jaro Plaza bandstand, their restoration will be funded and implemented by the National Historical Commission of the Philippines, said Treñas, with the support of Ilonggo senator Franklin Drilon.
For the plaza of Mandurriao, Phase 1 of the redevelopment is funded with some P17 million under the Green, Green, Green Program 2020 of the Department of Budget and Management. The work will, however, commence after the May 9 election.
To address the perennial problem on flooding, flood control will be incorporated in all the plazas’ rehabilitation. In La Paz’s public plaza for example, a retention pond has been constructed to catch rainwater.
La Paz’s plaza will also have a “blue koi lagoon” and “green butterfly garden” – this will be realized in partnership with Global Business Power Corp.
“I want to create a sustainable, livable and resilient city. Building and improving infrastructure for the benefit of the community is one of my priorities,” said Treñas./PN
