Aquino, allies see political unity behind Iloilo projects

AVENUES FOR GOOD GOVERNANCE President Aquino seems pleasantly surprised at finding two national roads in Iloilo province named after his parents—the 14.8-km President Corazon C. Aquino Avenue and the 15.6-km Sen. Benigno Aquino Jr. Avenue. At right is DPWH Secretary Rogelio Singson. GRIG MONTEGRANDE

ILOILO CITY, Philippines—President Aquino and his allies on Thursday trumpeted massive government projects in Iloilo as products of political unity and of the administration’s “daang matuwid” (straight path or good governance) program.

“That is ‘daang matuwid.’ We are focusing on the construction of roads, bridges, airports, ports and other important infrastructure,” said Aquino in a speech before 300 officials, government and employees at the Iloilo provincial capitol.

“We are experiencing the fruits of our reform agenda,” he added after Public Works Secretary Rogelio Singson briefed him on ongoing and completed infrastructure projects in the city and the province.

The President said the right infrastructure projects could improve the lives of the people.

‘Showcase of unity’

Senate President Franklin Drilon, a staunch ally of Aquino and a native of Iloilo, said the development projects showed that “Iloilo is the showcase of political unity, of private sector support but most importantly, of good governance.”

He assured the President that “every single peso of government funds is accounted for and well-spent” in Iloilo.

“We are a good example of what governance is all about,” Drilon said during the program after the President’s inspection of the projects.

Singson said the budget for infrastructure projects in Iloilo increased from P1.6 billion in 2011 to P6.1 billion in 2015. He said the projects were made possible because of the cooperation and unity of leaders and legislators of Iloilo.

“We will continue this (as) we have planned many (projects) here,” he said.

“What we did here is not easy. We cannot do this in other provinces because the leaders are disunited,” Singson said.

He cited the construction and improvement of roads named after the late parents of the President—the 14.8-km President Corazon C. Aquino Avenue (Iloilo circumferential road) and the 15.6-km Sen. Benigno Aquino Jr. Avenue (Diversion Road).

Massive gov’t projects

Singson said the province experienced a shortage of cement because of the massive government projects.

He said the development projects were pushing Iloilo’s growth to levels “much higher than national average gross domestic product growth.”

The President arrived at Iloilo International Airport in Cabatuan town in Iloilo about 11:30 a.m. and proceeded to Barangay (village) Ungka II in Pavia town where he unveiled the marker at the junction of the roads named after his parents.

He then inaugurated Dungon Bridge IV before passing the Iloilo Convention Center in Mandurriao District. He had lunch with his allies and other officials at the Breakthrough Restaurant in Arevalo District.

He later inspected the Muelle Loney Bridge before unveiling a marker at the restored old Iloilo provincial capitol.

Role in revolution

Speaking to reporters, the President said he chose to commemorate Independence Day here to emphasize the role of Iloilo in the Philippine Revolution that started in 1896. He said he would also want to bring the celebrations to Mindanao next year.

“If you keep it centered in Manila, there’s an appearance it was only in Manila that had all of the activities that culminated in our independence. So what we’re stressing is, this is the Independence Day for all Filipinos even those who are not in the country at present,” Aquino said.

With a little coaching from Drilon, an Ilonggo, Aquino said that it was in Sta. Barbara town that the Philippine flag was first displayed outside of Luzon.

Iloilo, the President said, “declared [a] federal state, which eventually joined Aguinaldo in the Malolos and declared the Malolos Republic.”

Aquino said that in his Independence Day speech on Friday, he would “highlight that the Filipino basically knows what is right and wrong.”

Simultaneous

“And even if there were no social networking sites at that time, there was no rapid communications, even a telegraph, in so many different areas, all the Filipinos at that point in time rose up simultaneously to fight for that which is right,” he said.

Aquino is scheduled to lead the 117th Philippine Independence Day commemoration at 8 a.m. at the historic town of Sta. Barbara, 17 kilometers west of Iloilo City.

He was expected to fly back to Manila after the traditional “vin d’honneur” ceremony, which was to be attended by members of the diplomatic corps, legislators and other officials and business and civic leaders at the session hall of the capitol past 11 a.m.