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By Vincent P. Grecia

Ilonggo leaders were happy with the mention of Pres. Ferdinand Marcos, Jr. of the Panay-Guimaras-Negros (PGN) bridge project in his second State of the Nation Address (SONA) last July 24, 2023.
The 32-kilometer PGN is one of the priority infrastructure projects of the Marcos administration under his Build Better More (BBM) program.
National Economic Development Authority (NEDA) earlier deported that the PhP 189.5 PGN bridge project may start construction in 2025.
Currently, the project’s Detailed Engineering Design (DED) is in the works.
The PGN bridge project, conceptualized during the time of former Pres. Rodrigo Duterte, covers an entire route of 32.47 kilometers, composed of two sections: Section A (13 km Panay-Guimaras) and Section B (19.47 km Guimaras-Negros).
Iloilo City Mayor Jerry Treñas said the PGN bridge project is an important project that will create impact on the lives of the people in Western Visayas.
Treñas also cited Pres. Marcos directive to the National Grid Corporation of the Philippines (NGCP) to finish the Cebu-Negros-Panay (CNP) interconnection.
He noted that through the construction of the PGN Bridge, ease of transportation, dynamic movement of goods and services, and enhanced economic and tourism activities will be assured, while the CNP interconnection will provide the city a stable energy source, transmission and distribution.
“Iloilo City, being the regional hub of Western Visayas, stands to benefit from these high impact projects. We are looking forward to their realization, as we also hope for the implementation of other projects of the national government, namely, the Iloilo Airport expansion, the Jalaur River Multipurpose Project, and the improvement of international port,” the mayor added.
Meanwhile, Iloilo Governor Arthur Defensor Jr., who personally attended the SONA, said that the PGN bridge project once realized will be a “game changer” in the economic development of the Western Visayas region.
Defensor was also happy that the President gave emphasis on the national government’s Farm to Market Road (FMR) projects, in which Iloilo will most likely benefit being an agricultural province.
“Ang Farm to Market roads, nalipay man kita sina bilang isa ka agricultural province, kay damo pa kita sang dalan nga dapat himu-on para makabulig sa aton mga mangunguma… Damo ang mga ginhambal sang presidente nga align sa programa sang probinsya, so nalipay kita,” Gov. Defensor said.
Defensor noted that the proposed Iloilo-Capiz-Aklan Expressway (ICAEX) project which was mentioned in Pres. Marcos’s first SONA will complement the PGN bridge project.
Although, it was not mentioned in his second SONA, Gov. Defensor believed that it is already in the pipeline of the BBM program.
Meanwhile, Ilonggo legislators like Representatives Julienne Baronda (Iloilo City), Michael Gorriceta (Second District of Iloilo), Lorenz Defensor (Third District) and Raul Tupas (Fifth District) also lauded the SONA of the President, noting that it was delivered in a clear manner, straightforward and extensive.
During the SONA, President Marcos Jr. appealed to Congress for its support for different priority legislations, namely the Essential Tax Measures under the Medium-Term Fiscal Framework (Excise tax on single-use plastics, VAT on digital services, Rationalization of mining fiscal regime, Motor vehicle user’s charge/road user’s tax, Military and Uniformed Personnel Pension); Amendment of the Fisheries Code; Amendment of the Anti-Agricultural Smuggling Act; Amendment of the Cooperative Code; New Government Procurement Law; New Government Auditing Code; Anti-Financial Accounts Scamming; Tatak-Pinoy Law; The Blue Economy Law; Ease of Paying Taxes; LGU Income Classification; and The Philippine Immigration Act. (with reports from PIA-6)

In a surprising turn of events, numerous consumers of MORE Power Iloilo were so happy to receive letters notifying them of a refund for their bill deposit.
Josephine Kanagasingam, who had applied for electricity three years ago during the transition period with the former distribution utility, was among the recipients. Josephine, like many others, had gone through the application process and paid a bill deposit of 4,000 pesos for her electrical connection.
Recently, while going through her mail, she came across a notice from MORE Power, Iloilo City’s power distribution utility. Curious, she visited MORE Power’s office to verify the legitimacy of the letter, only to be surprised that she was indeed eligible for a refund – the same 4,000 pesos she had paid three years ago, plus the accumulated interest earned, which will be deducted from her next billing.
Speaking about her experience, Josephine expressed her gratitude, saying, “I asked the staff there if it was true, and they confirmed that it was. I really appreciate MORE Power because they are returning it. It’s the first time I’ve experienced a deposit being refunded. In the past, other companies would keep the deposits, which were even larger. So, thank you very much, MORE Power!”
Josephine was one of twenty consumers who qualified for a refund by consistently paying their bills on time for 36 months, equivalent to three years. In a simple ceremony, she and her fellow consumers, Violeta and Kgd. Keiffer Espinosa, received their refunds.
Violeta, another MORE Power consumer, hailed from Brgy. Rizal Pala-Pala, known as one of the most densely populated areas in Iloilo City. She expressed her gratitude to MORE Power not only for the refund but also for simplifying the application process compared to the previous distribution utility.
“MORE Power has not only improved our lives through reliable electricity but has also shown a genuine commitment to the welfare of its customers. The refund received has made a tremendous difference in my child’s health, allowing us to continue providing the necessary care”, expressed by Tiangson.
Kgd. Keiffer Espinosa shared similar sentiments, emphasizing the ease of application, connection, and payment under MORE Power. He ensured timely payment by providing a one-month deposit to avoid disconnection, and he plans to deposit the refund he received for the next billing period. According to the Magna Carta for Residential Consumers, bill deposits can be refunded to consumers who have paid on time for 36 months without experiencing disconnection.
Apart from the bill deposit, an annual interest rate is also credited to the customer’s account to be deducted from their next billing. The Iloilo City Government commended MORE Power for this historic initiative, with Francis Cruz, Special Assistant to Mayor Jerry Treñas, stating, “Today’s turnover ceremony symbolizes the unwavering dedication that you, the remarkable team at MORE Power, have exhibited in providing the best possible service to the Ilonggos.”
Mr. Roel Castro, President of MORE Power, clarified that the refunds are not rewards but rather rights of every consumer based on the law. He highlighted the attention their program has garnered, stating that initially, only three consumers qualified for refunds, but now there are twenty.
He reiterated that the bill deposit belongs to the consumers, and it is the law’s mandate to return it. In June, three consumers qualified for the bill deposit refund, and this month, MORE Power identified twenty more eligible consumers. The Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC) Chairman, Atty. Monalisa Dimalanta, praised MORE Power for consistently setting an example for other distribution utilities to follow.

Beautification of 19-km. highway from Iloilo City to Iloilo Airport underway

By Vincent P. Grecia

The Iloilo Provincial Government, Iloilo City Government, municipalities of Cabatuan, Santa Barbara, and Pavia, Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) 6, and Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP) have entered into an Agreement for the “Greening of the Iloilo Airport Gateway” at the Iloilo City Hall on June 10, 2023.
The Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) establishes a formal partnership to facilitate the coordination and collaboration of efforts toward tree growing and convergence in the Iloilo Airport area.
It provides for the planting of flowering native trees on both sides of the national highway from the Iloilo Airport to Iloilo City traversing the municipalities of Cabatuan, Santa Barbara and Pavia spanning approximately 19 kilometers.
The project will be jointly undertaken with the Provincial Government Environment and Natural Resources Office (PGENRO), City Environment and Natural Resources Office (City ENRO), Provincial Planning and Development Office, Local Economic Development and Investment Promotions (LEDIP) Office, DPWH and CAAP.
Under the MOA, the parties have procured a total of 1,300 seedlings of various species of flowering trees, including Kasopangil, Malabago, Salinggogon, Siar, Labayanan, Bakan, Balitbitan, Bani, and Catmon to be used for tree growing activities.
Signatories to the MOA were Gov. Arthur Defensor, Jr., Iloilo City Mayor Jerry Treñas, Mayor Dennis Superficial of Santa Barbara, Mayor Elizalde Pueyo of Cabatuan (signed by his representative), Mayor Laurence Anthony Gorriceta of Pavia, DPWH 6 Regional Director Nerie Bueno, and CAAP Acting Area Manager Eusebio Monserate, Jr.
The Iloilo City Government shall be the lead agency of the beautification/greening program while the Iloilo Provincial Government in collaboration with DPWH is tasked to provide the layout and design of the proposed area development.
On the other hand, the local governments of Cabatuan, Santa Barbara and Pavia shall be in charge in maintaining and watering the trees for survivability.
CAAP shall also authorize the conduct of aerial drone shots within the Iloilo Airport area and provide assistance in the maintenance of the program.

This year, Iloilo becomes the forefront for world-class expositions that not only showcases
Philippines’ best but also showcases Iloilo’s bests for the national and international players.With
Philippine Building Expo (PHILBEX), Iloilo Food and Beverages Expo (IFBEX), and Travel and
Leisure Expo (TLEX) gracing Iloilo this July,
It is no surprise why PHILBEX will hold its next event in Iloilo. For years, Iloilo has been seen as
a prospective economic powerhouse. Its ports and accessibility of various provinces in Visayas,
such as Bacolod, Antique, and Aklan makes it attractive to many investors. It has also been a
hotspot for real estate development and has sustained its demand despite the pandemic.
Iloilo tourism is also a big factor in its economy with Dinagyang Festival and different tourist
spots to explore. With a refocus on tourism this 2023 and the launch of a new slogan, Iloilo
hopes to capture the local and international markets. TLEX aims to provide a look into tourism in
Iloilo and nearby provinces.
More than that, there are also many entrepreneurs rising in Iloilo with focus on foods and
beverages. IFBEX hopes to provide an avenue for entrepreneurs and creators to showcase the
different flavors of Iloilo.
This July 13 to 16, you can visit these three expositions at happening at the same time at ICON

• Iloilo Convention Center to experience Iloilo at its best. Admission to these events are FREE,
  so pre-register now!
  https://philbex.ph/iloilo/
  https://tlex.ph/iloilo/
  https://www.ifbex.ph/