Ilonggo leaders bullish on post-pandemic future

Ilonggo leaders assured investors that a bright future awaits both the city and province of Iloilo as policies, programs, and measures are now in place to ensure that Iloilo is at the forefront of the post-coronavirus disease (Covid-19) era.

Iloilo Governor Arthur Defensor Jr. said the provincial government is framing its post-Covid-19 economic plans for the province “to live and thrive with the pandemic.”

Defensor said the tougher challenge is how to keep the economy of the province afloat even after the pandemic.

He underscored the need to use the lessons and experiences from the pandemic to serve as building blocks for the economic recovery of the province.

“Our plans are not limited by or dependent on the availability of vaccines but will be based on their experience during the pandemic-related lockdowns. The plan is to live with COVID based on our experiences,” he said during the first day of the Iloilo Investment Forum on Wednesday.

During the forum, Defensor laid down the recovery plan entitled “Plan RT-PCR” of the province to bounce back from the ill-effects of the Covid-19 pandemic.

The plan is anchored on the goals of sustaining health watch and emergency response and economic recovery.
To sustain health watch and responses, there is a need to enhance compliance monitoring of Covid-19 health protocols contact tracing using digital technology, according to Defensor.

Health surveillance of other infectious diseases should also be maintained and the over-all health care system must be developed so that it will become at par with the universal health care standard, he added.

“We want to develop health care system. We need to level up our hospitals so that it can bring confidence to our health care system,” he said.

Emergency preparedness and response should be strengthened through the establishment of the Provincial Civil Defense Center.

In terms of economic recovery, the governor said there is an urgent need to support agriculture and fisheries in the province to ensure that the economic can bounce back.

Defensor added that private sector participation is also key to foster and push development in both the city and province of Iloilo.

“We need to develop economic zones, add infrastructure so that we can foster and push the development in city and province. We need private sector participation,” he said.

In Iloilo City, Mayor Jerry Treñas said the city is working hard to prepare and reassure investors that there remains to be a bright future for Iloilo.

“No matter how long it takes for Iloilo City’s economy to recover, the business and economic landscape after all this pandemic will change. The pandemic has also made us realize that businesses in Iloilo City need to enhance its capacities on assessing business risk,” he said.

Treñas said business continuity manage; linkages; digital and online platforms which are critical to connect customers, businesses, financers should be focused on by the businesses.

On the part of the city government, the mayor said measures are now being undertaken to hasten business applications processes as he reiterated that the city should use its assets in logistics, human resource, health, infrastructure, connectivity to help recover the economy.

“Programmers are currently developing an in-house program for automation of the building and occupancy permit process. It includes tracking, recording for easier report and permits locator. For our economy to be on track, it begins with encouraging our business owners to renew their business permits by helping start-ups establish their niche,” he furthered.

The city is also closely working with the Public Private Partnership (PPP) Center on projects that include privatization of markets, slaughterhouse, and public transport.

Iloilo City will also offer additional incentives for interested investors on areas at the coastal road, at the circumferential road and at the radial road.

“Investments there will be free of business and real property taxes for three years graduated. It will be included in the city’s Business Recovery Ordinance,” he said.

Despite the pandemic, the mayor underscored the need for the city to look forward and gear up for new investments.

“We are ready. Iloilo City has its own Covid-19 molecular laboratory that can release test results as fast as 48 hours. It is also building its own hospital to address the needs of its constituents as public hospitals are already congested. That is why we will be ready to accommodate those who will be coming in,” he stressed.

The mayor said that the city has and will always work hand in hand with the business sector as it envisions a bright economic outlook for Iloilo.

“Buoying up consumer confidence entails strong partnership of government, businesses, and community, Iloilo City will always work hand in hand with the business sector to capitalize our potential to help our community and people,” he said. (ERS)