MIG Integrated Urban and Regional Infrastructure Plan - draft final report

Executive Summary

Where Are We Now?

Significant population growth in the Metro Iloilo Guimaras (MIG) region was registered in recent years. The MIG region has approximately half a million population in 1990. Its population increased by 40 % or 200,000 ten years later. The increase is substantial. Metro Manila and its outlying areas grew by 29% or by 4 million people during the same period.

Between 2005 and 2020, population was estimated to increase by 200,000. Growth in the emerging large land development in Iloilo City is estimated to be 400,000 people or approximately the present size of Iloilo City, by 2010. Much of the growth in MIG in fact will be accommodated in the outlying areas, within the 20-30km radius from the central business district (CBD).

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MIG region’s importance as a major transport hub and tourism destination in the Western Visayas region, and the country, is growing. Still many of its infrastructures need improvement to provide services to a large segment of the population, especially the poor, who are underserved by urban infrastructure services, such as housing, water and sanitation, good roads, drainage facilities, public transport, and services that are essential to local economic development activities.

Flooding is a perennial problem particularly in Iloilo City and Oton as several rivers drain into City and the adjoining areas. River banks are silted and creeks and water bodies have “disappeared” due to uncontrolled development. Mobility is hampered by bad roads while good roads are washed away by floods. Water resource is getting depleted as unregulated extraction continues. There is no wastewater management system in the MIG region. Dirty water is discharged to Mali-ao Creek, Tigum and Aganan Rivers in the case of Pavia; to Buntatala, Janipaan and Jalaur Rivers in the case of Leganes, and to Iloilo River. Domestic wastes, garbage, agricultural runoff and industrial effluents are dumped into bodies of water like rivers and seas which, if properly managed, will give MIG a distinct advantage over the other cities.

Tourism in recent years is on the rise. Without adequate infrastructure support, however, growth in tourism industry will not be sustainable in the long haul.

Where Do We Want to Be?

The people of Metro Iloilo-Guimaras have expressed their vision of the Region: “A highly livable region of God-loving and educated people working together for a progressive, self reliant and sustainable community”. Metro Iloilo-Guimaras Economic Development Council (MIGEDC), the coordinating council in the MIG, has likewise affirmed its mission, that is, to improve cooperation and partnerships between the member-local governments in the management of social, economic and natural environments of Metro Iloilo–Guimaras.

The Metro Iloilo-Guimaras Integrated Urban and Regional Infrastructure Plan (MIG-02) takes off from this vision. To be progressive, self reliant and sustainable the MIG region must be well connected – through transport, information technology, and telecommunications – both nationally and globally. The availability of reliable and affordable energy and water supplies must be assured, as must access of MIG residents to education, health, housing, solid waste management and other social services. Problems like flooding must be dealt with efficiently. The region’s cultural and heritage assets must be protected and its natural assets conserved to keep tourism vibrant.

Based on these goals, the Metro Iloilo-Guimaras Integrated Urban and Regional Infrastructure Plan was drafted in consultation with the stakeholders. The Plan aims to coordinate plans, programs, policies, and institutional arrangements on infrastructure in order to achieve greater private sector investments and improve local economic conditions.

The plan also aims to expand opportunities for the MIG residents by focusing on five integrated objectives:

* increase prosperity
* improve wellbeing
* attain sustainability
* build compact communities
* expand opportunity

How Will We Get There?

The Metro Iloilo-Guimaras Integrated Urban and Regional Infrastructure Plan proposes how the current and infrastructure future needs of the MIG region can be met given the limited resources and capability of the Region. Recognizing that resources are not enough the Plan also identifies a mix of infrastructure services and non infrastructure interventions that should enable the local governments comprising the MIG region’s economic, social, and environmental systems to work well. More importantly the Plan shall be pursued jointly by government, industry and the broader community.

These interventions are guided by two key strategic objectives: (1) support priority strategic projects and (2) promote sustainable interventions. Local governments in MIG have been initiated to voluntarily work together in identifying strategic projects that they could support and implement as one engaged unit. These projects cut across several jurisdictions and require the coordinated efforts of the national and local governments, private sector and the community. The Region will also promote sustainable interventions that are designed to reduce waste generation and promote recycling, improve public transport efficiency, provide adequate water supply and encourage efficient exploitation of water sources, build compact communities, preserve marine biodiversity and agri resources, and promote efficient use of energy and other renewable resources.

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