Mayor Jerry P. Treñas is keen on starting the implementation of several big-ticket projects to ease the impact of the corovirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) crisis on Iloilo City’s economy.
“We met with our city treasurer and we came up with a list of priority projects,” Treñas said.
These multi-million peso projects, according to the mayor, would create jobs and generate income for the city government.
Treñas said the City Treasurer’s Office is currently in negotiations with state-run lenders Development Bank of the Philippines (DBP) and Land Bank of the Philippines for loans to fund the projects.
Recently, the City Engineer’s Office presented its plans for the proposed P400-million multi-level legislative and parking building, the P38-million Iloilo City Action and Response (ICARE) Command Center, and district public markets in Jaro, La Paz, Arevalo, and Mandurriao.
“To our people, let us help the efforts to address this problem. We all have to live with this for the meantime even if we have fear. But if we continue to believe that it is important for us to recover with the gradual start of our economy, just like a car, it needs pump-priming,” Treñas said.
I think it is incumbent upon us in city government to think of projects so we can gradually jump-start our economy. Hopefully, together with all leaders of the city, we can do it,” he added.
The city will remain under the modified general community quarantine until June 30.IMT
