[av_one_full first min_height=” vertical_alignment=” space=” custom_margin=” margin=’0px’ padding=’0px’ border=” border_color=” radius=’0px’ background_color=” src=” background_position=’top left’ background_repeat=’no-repeat’ animation=”]
[av_heading heading=’ Which Iloilo port was Duterte referring to? ‘ tag=’h3′ style=’blockquote modern-quote’ size=” subheading_active=’subheading_below’ subheading_size=’15’ padding=’10’ color=” custom_font=”]
BY PRINCE GOLEZ
[/av_heading]
[av_textblock size=” font_color=” color=”]
MANILA – President Rodrigo Duterte did mention Iloilo in his second State of the Nation Address (SONA). But it was so fleeting that it raised questions or caused confusion.
Here’s the transcript of the President’s statement that mentioned Iloilo, from the Presidential Communications Operations Office (PCOO):
“To address the congestion in our sea ports, we modernized the Ports of Iloilo, General Santos and Cagayan de Oro and Zamboanga. We shall complete strategic road and bridge projects and some of the road sections shall be widened and improved to address the worsening traffic.”
Was the President referring to the Iloilo domestic port at the Fort San Pedro area, City Proper or the Iloilo commercial port complex (also called the Iloilo international port or Iloilo commercial port complex) in Barangay Loboc, Lapu district?
Or was the President referring to all the seaports in Iloilo city and province?
The PCOO official transcript was also in the past tense (“we modernized”), indicating that the President was referring to the modernization of the ports he mentioned as already done and thus an accomplishment of his administration in the past year (July 2016 to July 2017).
In interviews, however, some local officials viewed the President’s statement as a plan yet to be done.
Mayor Jed Patrick Mabilog said he was glad that the President included the Iloilo port in the national government’s program.
Councilor Joshua Alim had the same impression. “I’m happy with that kay siling nila nalipatan sang Presidente ang Iloilo sa mga infrastructure projects. May ara man gali, meaning the President is also looking for development sa syudad sang Iloilo,” he said.
On the other hand, Mayor Ronaldo Golez of Dumangas, Iloilo was of the impression that the ports the President mention would include the seaport in his municipality.
“Na-recommend na gid man na sang NEDA nga ang Iloilo ports nga i-debelop gid man kag isa na dira ang Dumangas port,” said Golez.
A check with the Philippine Ports Authority (PPA) showed that P7.42 billion had been appropriated for port projects this year – P3.92 billion higher than the 2016 budget for port development projects.
According to the PPA, the national government would develop the “Iloilo container port complex.”/PN
[/av_textblock]
[/av_one_full]
