Edward Yee takes a step further
Edward with fellow village councilors
After his success in the food industry and as president of the Federation of the Association of Barangay Kagawads of Iloilo City, Edward Yee has decided to take the road of service a step further.
Armed with an expertise in urban planning, Yee has accepted Mayor Jerry P. Treñas's invitation to run as councilor for Iloilo City.
From this interview, discover what made him decide to run and what he has to offer.
Kathy M. Villaon (KMV): What made you decide to run for councilor?
Edward Yee (EY): Iloilo City is on the verge of boom. Although Mayor Treñas can handle this, being one of the best mayors of the city, he needs our support and help. He has mega projects like the flood control venture and the Iloilo airport becoming a business district. He needs the full support of the council for this, so he invited people whom he believes could help maintain the momentum of progress that he started here. So, we were invited and we accepted the challenge. Of course, coupled with the acceptance of the challenge is for us to do everything we can. That's why we are so busy right now.
KMV: How did your family and friends take your decision?
Edward with his family
EY: My family had reservations but then they gave me their blessing. My friends and the village councilors (barangay kagawads) are excited. For the first time, the latter believe they have somebody to represent them in the City Council.
KMV: What are your expertise that could be assets in the City Council?
EY: I'm the immediate past president of the Iloilo Hotel Resort and Restaurant. I have been in the food and entertainment business for more than 20 years, so somehow, I have the feel of the tourism business here.
I also I think I represent the SMEs. I can be their voice in their needs.
Then, I have been invited to a lot of task forces that helped Mayor Treñas in some projects, like being a member of the executive committee of Dinagyang Festival. As you know, Dinagyang was adjudged as one of the best festivals in the country. So, we would like to make Iloilo a tourist destination 24/7 and 12 months a year.
KMV: Why do you give emphasis on tourism?
EY: I believe that the engine of growth of a city is through tourism. If there are tourists here, there is money. And when there is money, there are jobs..
KMV: And how do you propose to make Iloilo City attractive to tourists and investors?
EY: Our city is becoming a highly urbanized area. As such, we need a person who has a passion for regulating its growth through urban planning. Otherwise, the problems stemming from uncontrolled development will come out like the traffic, garbage and informal settling, among others. For example, if one's infrastructure today is geared towards a 300,000-population and then suddenly it becomes 500,000, how would you meet that? Somebody should manage this through legislation. We need to a have a code of city living as the metropolis gets congested.
One of the index of a livable city is the availability of jobs and the affordability of housing.
If you have a beautiful city, you are creating a habitat for good people to live in. Especially the investors. You do not just invite them if you have not made your city a pleasant place. So, if the investors want to live here, they bring along their businesses, thus creating more jobs.
KMV: And do you have the expertise to make this happen?
EY: I took up a post graduate course in urban planning in the University of the Philippines.
KMV: What made you do so?
EY: When I go to other places, I had this feeling of being depressed once I see that their place is so beautiful. “Why is their place beautiful? Why can't we do the same in our place?” That kind of yearning. Urban planning had been my passion.
KMV: Aren't you worried that you might make unpopular legislations and people will react negatively to these?
EY: You make people understand. When you implement projects, it's not that easy, thus you have to consult everybody. It has to be a collective effort.
KMV: Any wild dreams for the city?
EY: Is it too much to dream of an eighth district? Iloilo City has seven districts now and it has grown bigger and bigger. We kept on making adjustments here and there. But, what kind of a city are we seeing in the future? Do we have a bigger picture for our growth?
KMV: Where do you propose this 8th district shall rise?
EY: There has to be growth area that the government should identify. That's where it could be. The mayor has a vision, and I'd like to help him fulfill that.
TRIVIA:
Yee is married to Lucy Kon. They have four children, namely James Nicolas, 23, graduate of the International School for Culinary Arts and Hotel Management; Mark Oliver, 21, graduate of De La Salle University; Xavier Louie, 19, Nursing student; and Philip Angelo, 16, Nursing student. Their businesses include Cakestop and Barbecue Park.