City open to reclamation to expand investments

By Emme Rose Santiagudo

Iloilo City Mayor Jerry Treñas underscored the need for the city to venture into a reclamation project and expand the city’s area for business investments.

According to Treñas, the city government is open to reclamation proposals from interested parties, adding that three have already signified interest in the project.

“We are not contemplating but we are open for reclamation if there are interested parties. I was made to understand na daw tatlo or apat ang interesado, they have to present their best proposal to the city,” he told media reporters on Monday.

Compared to Bacolod City which has a 23,000-hectare land area, the total land area in Iloilo City is 7,000 hectares only, according to the mayor.

Treñas said additional area for development is needed if the metro wants to cater to more businesses and investments.

“We need more area para ma-develop pa gid. Ang aton area is a total of 7,000 hectares kag Bacolod is 23,000 hectares pero nag-reclaim pa gid sila. It’s really about time kay kon gusto ta nga madako ang income ta and negosyo di, we need more lots,” he said.

Treñas said he plans to include the reclamation under the big-ticket projects of the city government using the public-private partnership (PPP) scheme.

“May ara kita PPP Ordinance where we rolled out our solid to waste energy project, a mass transport system and the rehabilitation of markets and slaughterhouse, amo na ang basis sang aton reclamation. The reclamation will be a part of that. Ako ya gapabor ako kay kon lantawon ta ang land area sa city indi na tam-an kadako,” he reiterated.