The Roadmap for Iloilo City
Conclusion
The roadmap
There are twelve goals for Iloilo City to attain to make it a Premier City by 2015. These twelve goals are cut out for the city to become vibrant, well-governed, and prosperous. These twelve goals comprise the direction of the city development – its roadmap:
Vibrant City
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Center for art, culture and sports
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Healthy and productive population
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Convention and tourism center
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Progressive mass communication industry
Good Governance
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Equal access to basic services
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Efficient and dynamic public governance system
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Financially stable with high surplus collection through progressive revenue collection program
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Healthy and productive population
Prosperous City
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Financial center
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Center for advance knowledge and learning
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Hub for major export manufacturing activities
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Establishment of a mass transport system
Concerns
One thing that bugs the city right now is the cost of power considered to be one of the most expensive in the country. Prospective investors/locators like call centers who first get attracted to the place because of its strong manpower supply, business-friendly environment, settled peace and order situation, would eventually back out for another location because of expensive electricity cost. Efforts are made to source out cheaper power from renewable energies and other alternative systems. The coal plant is being endorsed as remedy for the growing concern over the increasing power demand for new businesses. The present power capability of the existing plant is not enough to meet the projected demand of the metropolis.
On the transportation front, traffic has become a controversial issue with the implementation of the perimeter boundary. Out of town public utility vehicles are banned from entering the city and city loop jeepneys are given limited routes to decongest some of the crowded streets. This has caused objections and resentment from some jeepney associations around town. Though the city residents are happy about the shorter travel time and better maneuverability; the out of town commuters and public utility operators complained of limited access and the inconvenience of changing vehicles when entering the city. There is an on-going study being made by Ausaid about traffic management. While recommendations are being waited, city traffic ordinances are being harmonized with LTO and LTFRB regulations.
The Roll-On-Roll-Off (RORO) facilities have greatly helped improved accessibility of Panay Island with the rest of the archipelago. Travelers have already an option for a more affordable means of transportation which may as well be convenient and comfortable. The RORO just did that – offering cheaper alternative and link of getting through Iloilo City. It has increased trading activities between ports because of more convenient transport of products and people.
Another important infrastructure project that requires more serious consideration is the wharf improvement. There are at least two existing waterfront areas where boats from Guimaras dock but both have not been upgraded. There is already a feasibility plan for the Parola Terminal while the Ortiz breakwater project has its own development agenda. The link between Iloilo City and Guimaras has become a major concern because of the collaborative of Metro Iloilo Guimaras Economic Development Council (MIGEDC). Guimaras is being promoted as an alternative for Boracay and Iloilo City is its gateway. The special tie-up is considered as a breakthrough in inter-LGU partnership.
Enterprise development program for the barangays is another area that the city government focuses on. With RA 9178, giving incentives such as exemption from paying income tax, filing returns, and paying minimum wage to hired hands, more and more micro businesses will sprout and encouraged to go mainstream enabling the city to collect more business taxes. There are cooperatives that make bags and other accessories from recyclable materials, craft souvenir items and tokens for festivals and other important events, design and make costumes for cultural activities, prepare native foods and delicacies, grow and sell ornamental plants and decorative greens; there are individuals who provide catering, do landscaping, perform plumbing, service refrigeration, cast metalworks, etc.
For the environment projects, it is in solid waste that the city is concentrating right now especially on the matter of garbage segregation and collection. A non-government organization called Iloilo City Solid Waste Management Board (ICSWMB) was created to oversee the trash situation in the city. The board is composed of people from government and the private sector, chaired by the Mayor and co-chaired by a private citizen. It helps to regulate garbage disposal and collection, dumpsite management, and the construction of a sanitary landfill. Garbage management in the city is a joint undertaking of the City Environment and Natural Resource Office (CENRO) which takes care of markets, plazas and other public places, the Office of Public Services which takes care of the streets and barangays, a private trucking company which does the collection and dumping, and of course, the ICSWMB that oversees everything else. It is noteworthy to mention that for the last three years, Iloilo City was adjudged a grand slam winner in the Clean and Green Contest Project of the national government – Gawad sa Kapaligiran.
These are the priority programs and projects of the city in its bid towards becoming a premier city by 2015.