ILOILO City – Billions worth of projects were poured to Western Visayas, and particularly to Iloilo, during the administration of former President Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino III.
The country lost an honest and willful leader, according to officials following the demise of Aquino.
Local lawmakers, chief executives and colleagues expressed shock and sadness as they remembered Aquino’s contribution to the region during his term.
Ilonggo senator Franklin Drilon said the country lost an honest servant in Aquino, whose administration was best remembered for the country’s record economic growth.
“I grieve and mourn the passing of former President Benigno Simeon C. Aquino III. I have lost a dear friend and the nation has lost a gentleman who served his country well – with all honesty and sincerity and with the purest of intentions,” Drilon said.
“I am thankful for the opportunity of having worked with PNoy during his presidency. He meant well and wanted the best for the country and for all of us. We have lost an honest man. I join the Aquino family in their mourning and offer them my sympathies and prayers,” he added.
Hereunder are the major projects of Aquino in Iloilo:
* Iloilo Convention Center – P750 million
* Iloilo River Esplanade (2010-2015) – P281.65 million
* repair of Iloilo Hall of Justice – P50 million
* slaughterhouse in Iloilo City – P40 million
* widening of the Benigno Aquino Avenue (16.5 kilometers) Roads & bridges – P 2.12 billion
* construction of the Pres. Corazon Aquino Circumferential Road (14.1 kilometers) – P 1.93 billion
* widening of the Jaro-Leganes Road – P 100 million
* widening of the Leganes to Dumanggas Road – P100 million
* breakwater at Iloilo Fish Port – P30 million
* Iloilo Airport Access Road – P175 million
* Iloilo City DOTC Ferry Terminal – P99 million
* new Muelle Loney Bridge (Drilon Bridge) P140 million
* The P11.2-billion Jalaur multi-purpose project was launched, fully funded (thru a Korean loan) and commenced also during PNoy’s administration.
‘HE CALLED ME MANONG’
Iloilo City’s Mayor Jerry Treñas recounted his encounters with the former President during their Ateneo de Manila University days.
“I was two years older than him, and he would call me manong,” said Treñas.
The city mayor added that the Philippines lost a leader that brought the country a robust economy during his term.
Citing the average growth rate during Aquino’s time, Treñas had nothing but admiration.
He added that he also witnessed all the good performances of Aquino especially the projects he brought to Iloilo and in other cities and provinces in the country.
“I feel very sad because I was a witness to the Presidency of President Pinoy while I was in Congress,” said Treñas.
For the city mayor, Aquino was one of the most respected and very trustworthy Philippine Presidents.
“Rest well, President Noynoy. Thank you for your service to the Filipino people. Please pray for our country and our people,” Treñas said in a statement.
Treñas issued a memorandum circular directing all government offices, business establishments, and other public and private institutions including schools here to fly the Philippine flag at half-mast for 10 days starting June 24 to express deep respect and gratitude to the former President.
‘INCORRUPTIBLE’
Former Iloilo governor Arthur Defensor Sr. aired his gratitude to Aquino. He described him as “one of the country’s patriotic and incorruptible official.”
“This is very sad day for the people of the Republic of the Philippines,” Defensor Sr. said over DYRI RMN Iloilo.
Defensor Sr. was Iloilo’s governor during Aquino’s presidency.
He said he had been friends with Aquino since former President Corazon Aquino (Noynoy’s mother) was still running for president.
“He was an admirable and principled man,” Defensor Sr. added.
He also attributed plenty of infrastructure projects to the late ex-president, such as the Iloilo International Airport in Cabatuan, Iloilo and the national highways.
‘AGGRESSIVE INFRAS’
According to Defensor Sr.’s son, current Iloilo governor Arthur Jr., it was during Aquino’s term, 2010-2016, when connectivity of roads within the province had been materialized.
“Didto gid nag-umpisa nga aggresive nga pagpa-semento sang aton national highways. It was a very good initiative. Ang target ‘ya sadto at the end of his term or 2016 dapat paved na ang tanan nga national highways,” said Defensor Jr.
The governor said in his first term as congressman of Iloilo’s third district, “kalaba-laba sang national highways naton especially ang secondary national highways nga wala na-semento.”
“Pero by 2016, 100 percent gid. So, amo gid na ang ginbilin sa aton ni President Noynoy,” Defensor Jr. added.
Though he has not worked with Aquino, Defensor Jr. said he had been a great implementer, especially of infrastructure projects in Iloilo province.
“We would like to express our condolence and sympathies to the family of former president Nonoy Aquino. Sa iya nga ginbilin kag now that he is gone,” said Defensor Jr.
‘SALAMAT PO’
Ilongga senator Grace Poe, meanwhile, said Aquino left a legacy of honest and dedicated service, and showed his innate goodness as a leader during his presidency.
“Siya nagbukas ng pinto ng serbisyo publiko para sa atin, maraming salamat sa iyong legasiya ng pagsisilbi nang buong katapatan at dedikasyon,” Poe said.
“Ipinakita sa atin ni PNoy ang kahalagahan ng mabuting kalooban sa isang pinuno: walang pag-iimbot sa kapwa, malinis ang intensyon, at walang pagkagahaman sa kapangyarihan,” she added. “Pinapahalagahan namin ang iyong matapat na paglilingkod, PNnoy.”
Negrense senator Juan Miguel Zubiri also condoled with the family and loved ones of former President Aquino, who was his former colleague in the House of Representatives and Senate.
“I join the country in mourning the sudden passing of former President Benigno Simeon ‘Noynoy’ Aquino,” Zubiri said. “We entered the House of Representatives and the Senate at the same time — in 1998 and 2007, respectively.”
“As his colleague I have always recognized and respected how committed he was as a public servant. Through his time as Congressman, as Senator, and eventually as President, he was able to balance the weight of being an Aquino—carrying all the history of the name, and all the expectations that came with it—while also carving a path for himself,” he added.
“We have lost a dedicated leader. I am shocked and saddened by his passing, and I send my prayers and condolences to his family in this difficult time,” Zubiri furthered.
Meanwhile, Iloilo City’s Rep. Julienne “Jamjam” Baronda also thanked the former President for his great service to the country.
“Rest in Eternal Peace, former President Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino III. You have served the Filipino nation well. You will be in our prayers. Thank you for your love of our country and people,” said Baronda.
The Tupas couple – former city councilor Lex and incumbent city councilor Candice – also expressed their sorrow.
“Thank you for giving me my start in Public Service when I became the first Presidential Appointee Iloilo City Councilor on Feb. 2016 to finish the unexpired term of my husband before I had my own elected term,” said the lady councilor.
Former city councilor Tupas meantime recalled that back in 2007 when Aquino still was a Senator, he was the one who administered his oath as newly-elected Iloilo City councilor at their Times Street residence.
To note, the Tupases led by their patriach, the late former Iloilo’s Gov. Niel Tupas Sr., are long-time political allies of Aquino.
“He gave me his trust as I became one of his Presidential Appointees as he appointed me in November 2015 as National Youth Commission Executive Director and Chief Operating Officer then under the Office of the President from the time of PNOY (2015) until the first years of the administration of PRRD (2017). Madamu gid nga salamat, PNoy,” Lex recalled.
Former Iloilo City mayor Jed Patrick Mabilog also took to social media to thank Aquino.
“Thank you gid for everything. Your passing will find meaning in my heart. I hope and pray for a lot of realizations on what Good Governance is all about. Eternal rest grant unto him Oh Lord, may his soul and all the faithful departed, rest in peace. Amen. Farewell my/our President. My snappy salute sir,” Mabilog said.
Other personalities and ordinary Ilonggos also took to social media to honor and thank the former President.
“Thank you Mr. President for giving us a time of economic prosperity,” former city councilor Leone Gerochi said.
“Love and gratitude for everything you did for Iloilo. Rest well PNoy,” posted City Tourism Officer Junel Ann Divinagracia.
“Our prayers for the repose of President Benigno ‘Noynoy’ Aquino. Thank you for the policy reforms and programs implemented during your term of which we are witness of. Rest in peace,” read the Facebook post of former Director Ro-Ann Bacal of the National Economic and Development Authority Region 6.
Former Iloilo City Local Economic Enterprise Office head and now a private employee Ariel Castañeda, thanked Aquino for the good things he did for Iloilo.
“Pres. Noynoy. Thank you for the great things you did for Iloilo. God bless your soul,” Castañeda said.
Roxas City’s Mayor Ronnie Dadivas, on the other hand, said the honor is all his to have worked for the former president as vice mayor and later as Board of Director of the Philippine Health Insurance Corp. (PhilHealth) during his term.
“His efforts to rally everybody as leader of the Liberal Party rippled in best government practices all over the nation. He is an inspiration to me and to many other leaders in the Philippines.May your legacy in public service live on! Madamo gid nga salamat, Pnoy!” Dadivas said in a statement.
Bacolod City’s Mayor Evelio Leonardia recognized Aquino’s selfless dedication to lead the country.
“President Noynoy, while many of us are still trying to understand and accept the reality of this information, we would like to express that, inasmuch as the Lord has seen fit to take you away, you leave behind your selfless dedication to public service for and in behalf of the Filipino people. Thank you,” he said in a statement.
Leonardia also ordered that all Philippine flags in Bacolod be flown at half-mast in honor of the late leader.
Negros Occidental’s Gov. Eugenio Jose Lacson also joined Negrenses in remembering Aquino.
“Today, the people of Negros Occidental honor and thank former President Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino III for his contributions to our country and to our people,” Lacson said in a statement.
Lacson recognized how Aquino “advanced the economy; change the perception of other countries with regard to corruption; and the fight for our sovereign rights over the West Philippine Sea.”
The governor added that the Negros Island will remember “the opportunity he gave us to be one region.”
“PNoy has been known for his restrained demeanor that translated into his brand of leadership, and this is his legacy. Rest in peace, President PNoy,” Lacson said.
Capiz’s Gov. Esteben Contreras said he heard the news while attending the installation rites of Jose Cardinal Advincula as the 33rd Archbishop of Manila.
“One of the great leaders sang aton nga pungsod,” said Contreras.
He also shared that he was vice governor then during Aquino’s time. He also started his political career as part of the Liberal Party. He left in 2019 to run as governor – independent.
“There were times small talks, naka-istorya man sia naton sang makadali pero sa administration may mga iban man kita nga nahingyu nga naaprubahan niya man especially iban nga judges nga gin-endorse man naton. So, daku man ang pagpasalamat naton sa iya,” Contreras told Panay News.
He added: “Actually during his time, significant ang pag-ayo sang aton ekonomiya and sia ang person nga mahambal naton nga well ang pagka-presidente daw destiny… way man ginahandum ang pagka-presidente pero ginduso sang mga tawo.”
Antique’s Gov. Rhodora Cadiao also expressed her regards.
“Very sad, very shocking,” Cadiao said in an interview with Panay News. “Sayang, sayang, bata pa. The Antiqueños are shocked. We pray for him, pray for his family, marami din ang natulong ni Noynoy sa Antique.”
Although she had no personal encounters with Aquino, she was thankful of his legacy to Antique -bottom up budgeting and road improvement projects in barangays under the KALSADA program.
Antique’s congresswoman Loren Legarda, for her part, said she too was shocked to learn about the death of Aquino.
“Nung nalaman ko this morning, nakita ko lang na he was hospitalized and I was praying that he would recover,” Legarda said in an interview with Politiko’s Kamustahan.
“Mabait siya, he’s a firm leader when he was president and he’s very amiable nung siya’y kasama ko sa Senate,” she added. “Bagama’t hindi kami very close… But I would consider him a friend, a family friend.”
The provincial government of Guimaras also remembered Aquino’s “advocacy for honest and decent government.”
Acting Gov. John Edward Gando led the ceremonial hoisting of the Philippine flag at half-mast.
“We would like to thank the former President for his service to the nation,” he added./PN
