Treñas vows to turn ‘wheels’ of development

ILOILO CITY Mayor-elect Jerry P. Treñas vowed to turn the “WHEELS” for inclusive development and good governance for all Ilonggos.

Treñas made the promise in his inaugural speech during the oath-taking ceremony of elected city officials at the Iloilo Convention Center in Mandurriao district, June 28, 2019.

“I am proud of everything that we have achieved, but we cannot stop here. So today, I am once again presenting another roadmap that will make this premier city even better, and turn it into something we all envision it to become,” he said.

Treñas was sworn into office by Supreme Court Associate Justice Francis Jardeleza.

“The Iloilo City Roadmap “WHEELS” for inclusive development program will address many challenges that the metropolis face,” he added.

WHEELS program stands for Welfare, Health and Sanitation, Education, Environmental Management, Livelihood, and Sustainability.

Welfare covers public safety and security, peace and order, enhanced emergency response and disaster preparedness, effective drainage and septage system, lesser power outages and lower electricity rates to attract more Business Process Outsourcing (BPOs) and investors, and comprehensive social services.

“We will make the city more child-, PWD-, senior citizen-, youth-, and LGBTQ-friendly. I also plan to utilize the Intelligent Transport System (ITS) for effective traffic management. This ITS will encourage responsible drivers on the road, and will reduce serious injuries and road accidents,” Treñas stressed.

The Health and Sanitation aims to improve access to medical and dental services, properly maintained public toilets, better access to potable water to everyone, sustained feeding program for the children, and vaccination.

Treñas also vowed to look for funds to establish a City Hospital and Dialysis Center.

He added that it is also his advocacy to enhance local government assistance to public schools, day care centers, upgrade the Iloilo City Community College, and Technical Institute of Iloilo City, provide continuing education to City Hall employees and teachers, make all day care centers fully air-conditioned for conducive learning, and train daycare workers and teachers to become more efficient educators.

“Environmental Management would rationalize the Esplanade operations, improve all public plazas, and initiate closer engagements with the Department of Environment and Natural resources (DENR), Land Transportation office (LTO), Department of Health (DOH), the academe and other stakeholders for our waste management program,” Treñas said.

Tree planting and coastal clean-up activities will also be prioritized by the new administration to mitigate climate change.

“We will find ways and means to provide employment and livelihood opportunities and training for the poor, intensify tourism and investment promotions, promote Iloilo as Meetings, Incentives, Conferences, and Exhibitions (MICE) capital to generate more job opportunities for the Ilonggos and upgrade slaughterhouse and public markets,” he said.

“Sustainability refers to continuous delivery of all government programs, projects, activities, and services.” he added.

Also inducted during the ceremony were lone district Representative-elect Julienne Baronda, Vice Mayor-elect Jeffrey Ganzon and city councilors-elect Julie Grace Baronda, Rudolph Ganzon, Jay Treñas, Ely Estante Jr., Romel Duron, Alan Zaldivar, Jojo Javellana, Lyndon Acap, and Eduardo Peñaredondo.

Senator Franklin Drilon was guest speaker of the program.

Treñas also thanked his supporters and family for the support they showed during and after the campaign.

Before he was elected representative of the Lone District of Iloilo City in 2010, Treñas served as city mayor for three terms starting in 2001. (PIO)