Drilon: ‘Iloilo is back on track’

Senate President Franklin Drilon touring Iloilo (Photo courtesy of Drilon’s Facebook account)

ILOILO CITY, PHILIPPINES — Senate President Franklin Drilon graced the most-awaited Dinagyang Festival with his presence in the Freedom Grandstand and delivered an opening speech alongside City Mayor Jed Patrick Mabilog, Congressman Jerry P. Treñas, and Governor Raul Defensor Sr. In his speech, he reiterated that Iloilo is a growing powerhouse and nothing can stop it.

He said, that the reason why Iloilo has become one of the fastest developing cities in the Philippines is because of the ‘united political leadership’ that is present today.

He cited examples to strengthen his point, city projects were mentioned in the speech with the starting statement, “five years ago” pertains to the term when current city mayor Jed Patrick Mabilog started his career.

The Iloilo city river was mentioned, and the Benigno Aquino Avenue which according to him “is the only road in the entire country with a five kilometer bicycle lane. He also stated that “five years ago the 14 kilometer circumferential road was just a dream of our people, but today we have a road from Arevalo to Lapuz at La paz on a 14 kilometer four-lane highway.

“Five years ago were just talking about Iloilo Convention Center (ICC). In the middle of the year or June, we will have a 700 million convention center.”

Drilon also stressed that he will not allow anyone or any Ilonggo to stop or delay the progress of the city. Together we’ll move forward, we will not stop until we reach our goal.”

His speech’s sentiments come from the fact that he is indeed a true-blooded Ilonggo.