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Residents of Barangay Jaguimit and Sawe in Dueñas, Iloilo expressed gratitude to Gov. Arthur Defensor, Jr. for making their dream of having concrete road a reality.
Defensor went to the two barangays on Wednesday, October 18, 2023, to personally grace two activities – the inauguration and groundbreaking ceremonies of two road sections passing the two barangays which is part of the 14-kilometer Dueñas-Cabudian-Carvasana Road which links Dueñas to its neighboring town of Calinog.
The recently completed 855.65 meter road section in Brgy. Jaguimit that was inaugurated was funded under the Department of Interior and Local Government’s (DILG) Financial Assistance to Local Government Units (FALGU) in the amount of P27,524,044.82.
The concrete road has two lanes and is 12 inches thick with metal guardrails, road signs and thermoplastic pavement markings.
It is also constructed with 838 meters lined ditch canal and slope protection at critical segments.
Meanwhile, the road section in Brgy. Sawe that commenced construction is funded under the 2022 Seal of Good Local Governance (SGLG) Incentive Fund amounting to P 9.5 million.
The concrete road project has two lanes and a length of 302 meters with a thickness of 12 inches. It will also be constructed with a 302 meters lined ditch canal and slope protection at critical segments.
The project is expected to be completed by January 2024.
Gov. Defensor said the overall plan is to make the entire Dueñas-Cabudian-Carvasana Road a concrete road, being a secondary highway, to provide Dueñasanons a convenient access to the Iloilo Airport via Calinog.
He said other sections of the road are being handled by the Department of Public Works and Highways with the help of Third District Congressman Lorenz Defensor and Fourth District Congressman Ferjenel Biron.
Dueñas Mayor Robert Martin Pama thanked Gov. Defensor for pouring in funds to help improve the road networks in their municipality.
“We are forever grateful to you Governor Defensor because you always give priority to our municipality in terms of projects,” said Mayor Pama.
Also present in the activity were DILG Iloilo Provincial Director Carmelo Orbista, Fourth District Board Member Rolando Distura, Dueñas Vice Mayor Aimee Lamasan and the Sangguniang Bayan Members, and Provincial Engineers Office chief Engr. Romeo Andig and personnel.
Barangay officials of Cabudian, Bagongbong, Jaguimit, and Sawe were also present to show their gratitude to Gov. Defensor for concreting their roads.
Punong Barangay James Lagabala of Brgy. Jaguimit said the people are very thankful that their road is now concrete because it greatly improved their mobility unlike in the past where they suffer inconvenience due to rough road. (Capitol News)

By Vincent P. Grecia

Ilonggo former Senator Franklin Drilon is hopeful that the Jalaur River Multi-purpose Project (JRMP) Stage II will be operational by 2025 as it will help boost food security in Iloilo if not the entire Western Visayas region.
Drilon, who was instrumental in the realization of the PhP 11.2 billion project, together with National Irrigation Administration (NIA) 6 Regional Manager Engr. Jonel Borres, together with other NIA personnel, visited the project site in Calinog on October 18, 2023 to check on its status.
It was the second time that Drilon visited the project site, the first visit was on June 23, 2022.
According to NIA 6, JRMP II has a completion rate of 69.23 percent and the contractor Daewoo Engineering and Construction assured that it will finish the project by December 2024.
During his ocular visit, Drilon expressed satisfaction with the work of the contractor and he is optimistic that they could meet the project’s target completion.
It can be recalled that the national government added PhP 8.4 million to the budget of JRMP II.
Borres said the additional budget will be used to cover inflation and tax payments and not for civil works.

Iloilo 2nd District Representative Mike Gorriceta confirms the excitement of the People of Pavia and the second district upon seeing MORE Power personnel laying out the electric posts in the said town.
“Well in fact pagkita namon poste naga layout na, people were excited especially ang atun mga dalagku na mga investors and at the same time even mga households excited na sila kay ti knowing ang MORE Power kag makita man nila nga kung may nagakay-o sang poste, may ara gid nagabantay sa idalum. May ara gid naga uniform kag naka gear gid mga tawo. It simply shows how serious ang company sa trabaho,” says Cong. Mike Gorriceta.
Recently, Cong. Gorriceta paid a visit to the facilities of MORE Power to personally check the company’s daily operations, modern substation, and how they handle customer service complaints and concerns.
“Impressed gid ako kay nakita ko gid nga serious and determined gid ang MORE Power to invest which is indi lango-lango,” says ni Cong. Gorriceta.
Cong. Gorriceta is the author of House Bill 10306, which sought Congress to expand MORE Power in several municipalities in the Province of Iloilo. It is now known as the Republic Act 11918. At present, the Energy Regulatory Commission is reviewing the application of MORE Power for a Certificate of Public Convenience and Necessity.

State regulatory body National Electrification Administration has already started to evaluate the joint venture agreement between the Central Negros Electric Cooperative (CENECO) and the Negros Electric Power Corporation.

The National Electrification Administration (NEA) has convened to assess the joint venture agreement (JVA) of Primelectric/Negros Electric and Power Corporation (NEPC), a sister company of MORE Power, along with Central Negros Electric Cooperative, Inc. (CENECO), on Wednesday, October 4, 2023, which is aimed at promoting quality service to the consumers.

NEA Administrator Antonio Almeda said during the hearing that along with scrutinizing CENECO’s donated capital and viability, the board would also address the concerns of the oppositors to improve the JVA of the involved parties.

“I hope we can address the concerns of the oppositors. We must also consider them. Regarding the participation of the Member-Consumer-Owners, it has been concluded during the plebiscite so we will put this into motion with all the required legal objectivity,” NEA Administrator Almeda emphasized.

Primelectric/NEPC and CENECO presented before the board of NEA to tackle its joint venture, including the agreement’s implications, in order to strengthen its service to the consumers.

“This venture seeks to magnify the electric industry in Central Negros by not just streamlining the internal and external operations of concerned parties but also rehabilitating and modernizing the distribution system, which is deemed crucial in providing quality service to our consumers,” Primelectric/NEPC President Roel Castro said during the hearing.

On the other hand, CENECO acting general manager Atty. Arnel Lapore also supported the critical role the JVA plays in the area, adding that it “strongly” supports the NEA’s goal to achieve efficient service for all consumers.

“I’m one with NEA in facilitating the service for the benefit of our consumers. That’s why I strongly support and cooperate through this JVA to ensure we deliver quality operations internally and externally. Rest assured that we duly consider all the suggestions raised by Admin Almeda during the hearing,” Lapore said.

Additionally, Castro highlighted during the meeting that NEPC’s target P2.1 billion investment in the capex of its operations is aimed at putting up cutting-edge and top-of-the-line systems for a better consumer experience.

“We need to rehabilitate the system because if you don’t put in the additional P2 billion investment or even bigger, you will be inheriting a distribution system that is just the same as now that is inefficient. That’s why we have to put (the investment) in P2.1 billion to start rehabilitating and improving the system,” declared the Primelectric/NEPC president.

Castro highlighted that along with rehabilitating the distribution system, the P2.1 billion investment will aid in reducing the system’s losses and improve reliability.

“The P2.1 billion will result in reduced system losses and much better reliability but will not lead to any immediate increase in the Distribution System and Metering rates for the consumers once NEPC operates,” he added.

Castro also emphasized during the hearing the NEPC’s commitment to achieve the 100 percent total electrification target in the franchise area by 2028 “in alignment” with the present administration’s agenda of achieving sustainable and inclusive economic growth.

“On behalf of NEPC, we have our commitment to continue, and we will achieve the 100 percent target in alignment with the government’s direction,” Castro noted.

“It will now be fully funded by NEPC, and thus, we are shifting the burden of electrification from the government to the private sector,” he added.

By establishing connections between sitios and the electricity grid, the Sitio Electrification Program intends to achieve its goal of energizing communities through on-grid electrification.

To efficiently execute these programs, the NEPC vowed to work closely with the NEA along with other agencies involved in the hearing to substantiate the NEA’s goal for the nation.

“We will ensure that Primelectric/NEPC will collaborate with NEA and CENECO because we have the same mission to bring light to the progression of the Filipino people and make their lives even more comfortable,” Castro remarked.

Iloilo City Mayor Jerry Treñas has been cleared of charges against him before the Office of the Ombudsman.

In a decision dated Feb. 27, 2023, received Oct. 9, Ombudsman dismissed for lack of substantial evidence the case for conduct unbecoming of a public official, grave abuse of authority, and grave misconduct filed by Jun A. Capulot and Plaridel C. Nava II.

The complainants alleged of ostentatious and immoderate spending during the height of Covid-19 pandemic on their filing April 4, 2022.

This, after the mayor entered into loan contract with Development Bank of the Philippines some P1.75-billion for the new public markets and seven-storey parking building.

In his counter-affidavit, Treñas denied accusations and clarified that the loan is valid as it complied with rules pertaining to loan acquisition of a public corporation.

“The Finance Committee studied the contract of loan and the City Council approved a resolution authorizing respondent to execute the contract. The loan was to fund the rehabilitation of the Jaro Big, Arevalo and La Paz Public Markets,” the Ombudsman decision reads.

They also questioned the approval of purchase of 15 brand new motor vehicles for the use of City Council members and procurement of Covid-19 vaccines, and request for supplemental budget to cover, among others, the salaries of newly-created plantilla, additional job hires and executive assistants.

“The purchase of the motor vehicles passed through public bidding and was approved or authorized by the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG). The number of Covid-19 vaccines purchased was not excessive as it was duly approved by the National Government through the Department of Health and National Task Force Against Covid-19. The enactment of the supplemental budget is within the prerogative of the Sangguniang Panlungsod and not the executive department. The ordinance was reviewed and approved by the Department of Budget and Management,” the decision added.

“The transactions were all in accordance with existing rules and regulations. The public funds disbursed were used in the implementation of various disease control and containment activities in order to manage transmission of Covid-19 virus,” the decision also stated.

The City Government was lauded for its successful response to the Covid-19 pandemic which Treñas received the Presidential Lingkod Bayan Award in the 2021 Search for Outstanding Government Workers because of his efforts. The recognition was given by the Civil Service Commission Regional Office 6. (Iloilo City PIO)

By Vincent P. Grecia

The Iloilo provincial government has launched a 24/7 operation to help Ilonggo Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) who are affected by the ongoing Israel-Hamas war.

Gov. Arthur Defensor Jr. ordered the reactivation of the provincial government’s 24/7 Operation Bulig Ilonggo Migrants Desk to attend to OFWs and their families who are caught in the middle of the ongoing tension between Israel and Palestine.

The help desk will be managed by the Public Employment Service Office (PESO) and the Provincial Civil Defense Office.

“We want to let them know that we have a help desk that will assist them in times of crisis,” PESO head Francisco Heler Jr. said.

The provincial government also reactivated its Task Force Bulig Ilonggo and created a social media chat to proactively respond to the families of war victims.

OIC-Governor and Provincial Administrator Raul Banias said he is closely coordinating with the Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) and the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA).

He said the provincial government will extend immediate assistance to the Ilonggo victims.

“The governor also gave instructions that our OpCen will proactively call or inform our local government units and even the barangays just in case they receive a report of an Ilonggo affected by the war. Governor Toto is closely monitoring the situation and also the Opcen,” Banias said.

IGovernor Defensor issued Executive Order No. 004 Series of 2020 creating the Task Force Bulig Ilonggo for OFWs and their families in war-crises-prone areas in the Middle East and establishing an assistance desk.

Families of Ilonggos affected by the Israel-Hamas War, may call the following hotlines: 0998 968 6800; 0998 968 6801; 0961 680 4428; 0977 451 7156; 0998 357 5791; 0921 952 8750; 0916 758 3156; and 0917 754 3833. (Capitol news)

Gov. Arthur Defensor Jr. urged the Department of Transportation (DOTr) to expedite the expansion of the Iloilo International Airport in the municipality of Cabatuan.

The governor met with DOTr Secretary Jaime Bautista on Sept. 29, 2023, to present the urgent need to expand the facility due to the increase in passenger traffic following the rapid development in the city and province of Iloilo.

“Our problem is very practical. We could no longer fit in our terminal. Even before the pandemic, it was already congested. And we are about to reach the pre-pandemic levels,” he said.

In a letter to Governor Defensor, National Economic and Development Authority VI Regional Director and Regional Development Council VI Vice Chairperson Engr. Arecio A. Casing Jr. said that as of September 2023, the Unsolicited proposal (USP) submitted by Prime Asset Ventures, Inc. (PAVI) is still under evaluation by the DOTr and the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines.

The proposed expansion covers the upgrade of the passenger terminal building (PTB), construction of an apron adjacent to the PTB, installation of the required equipment for the passenger services, and modernization of the appurtenant facilities.

The expansion will be implemented under a public-private partnership (PPP) scheme. RDC VI endorsed the proposed expansion under a PPP scheme through Resolution Nos. 39 and 40 on Sept. 26, 2014.

PAVI was also instructed to submit documents in compliance with the revised guidelines of the build-operate-and-transfer (BOT) Law, implementing rules and regulations, and the new Investment Coordination Committee (ICC) Guidelines and Checklists.

Defensor said he was told by Secretary Bautista that the NEDA Board is targeted to issue the approval in the first quarter of 2024.

“We want to lobby to make it faster and avoid further delay,” Defensor said.

The governor is also pushing for the resumption of the international flights at the Iloilo International Airport. (Capitol news)