ILOILO CITY – The multi-billion Iloilo floodcontrol project in Jaro district will soon be completed by December this year in a move by the national government to spare city residents here of up to P5 billion annual losses in properties due to floods.

This was assured by the Department of Public Works and Highways to the people of Iloilo City recently. According to Patrick B. Gatan, head of the DPWH-Project Management Office for Major Flood Control (DPWH-PMO-MFCPI), the order from President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo and DPWH Secretary Hermogenes Ebdane Jr. directed them to rush the completion of over P2.5 billion floodcontrol projects contracted by two foreign-based contractors.

This highly urbanized southern city has been suffering from flood damages almost every year due to the insufficient flow capacity of the Jaro River and poor drainage system in the Iloilo River Basin. This situation always deters investors and business locators to come here. Read more »

ILOILO CITY – Mayor Jerry P. Treñas is urging the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) to immediately start its P50 million dredging project at the Dungon Creek here in identified staging areas along the 15-kilometer creek without houses.

Treñas said there are several areas where dredging can be started without hassle from residents and the excavated soil from the creek can be dried and brought to the Calajunan Creek as soil cover of the old dumpsite.

The initial dredging at the staging areas will be inspected by DPWH soon in a move to immediately start the project designed to help deter flashfloods. The long stretch of the creek from Sambag, Jaro to an area behind Marina Restaurant at the diversion road is expected to pass by 13 barangays in Jaro and Mandurriao districts. Read more »

ILOILO CITY – Two major development infrastructure projects for Iloilo City and Guimaras are upcoming after feasibility studies conducted by consultants of the ADB/GTZ/SIDA – assisted Cities Development Initiative for Asia (CDIA) were presented this week to city mayor Jerry P. Treñas and other city officials with the studies covering the proposed Guimaras-Iloilo Ferry Terminal System (GIFTS) and the downtown Central Business District (CBD) revitalization projects.

The city chief executive, also chairman of the Metro Iloilo-Guimaras Economic Development Council (MIGEDC) said an additional grant of US$80,000 for the studies was granted by CDIA and Asian Development Bank to further upgrade the studies. Read more »

ILOILO CITY – The first commercially viable coal-fired power plant in Western Visayas will be commissioned by the last quarter of 2010 at its site at Brgy. Ingore, La Paz, Iloilo City. .

This was announced by Engr. Adrian Moncada, president of the Global Business Power Corp., proponent of the P16 billion power plant investments during the Power 101 power situationer report conducted by the Iloilo Business Club was April 17, 2009 at the Hotel del Rio here.

Moncada admitted that landfill development is currently ongoing in the 24-hectare site and actual construction will start by July or August this year. Read more »

ILOILO CITY – The city government will get some P50 million as its share in the initial partial release of P483 million Paglaum Fund and will be used for the dredging of Dungon Creek in Mandurriao district.

City mayor Jerry P. Treñas said the creek is an important waterway that absorbs surface water during the rainy season and must be rehabilitated and dredged to pave the way for surface water to pass through and go to the Iloilo River.

Rapid urbanization and the emergence of housing villages in the area have constricted the flow of water that led to flashfloods. Super typhoon Frank that occurred last June 21-22, 2009 had flooded for several days the downstream area including those along the diversion road. Read more »

ILOILO CITY – Iloilo City is again a recipient of a flyover project under the “MEGA Bridges for Urban and Rural Development Project” that will be funded by the French Government.

The flyover, which is proposed to be constructed at the junction of General Luna-Jalandoni streets, will be implemented under the President’s Bridge Program of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH).

Emil K. Sadain, executive director of the President’s Bridge Program in a letter to Mayor Jerry P. Treñas has requested the assistance of latter’s office for the conduct of soil/geotechnical investigation as part of the design of the substructure.

The Woodfields Consultants Inc has been tapped as project consultant of the project.

Meanwhile, Treñas, in consultation with Sangguniang Panlungsod’s chairman on traffic committee councilor Erwin Plagata, disclosed that they will also look into other areas where traffic congestion is experienced and compared them with the proposed location.

One area is the junction of the national road in Taft North and Diversion Road in Mandurriao.

“This will be the second flyover for Iloilo City,” he said.

Treñas said there was no mention as to the budget allotted for the project.

The first flyover was constructed at the junction of General Luna and Infante streets, which is worth about P400 million.

Philippine News Agency

Public Safety and Security

• Information Dissemination

A.I Fire Prevention Month Celebration
A.2 National Disaster Consciousness Month Celebration
A.3 Crime Prevention Week Celebration (preparation of flyers, posters, etc.)

• Improve Technical Capabilities

B. Services improvement
B.1 Radio communications training attended by committee member agency
B.2 Conduct seminar on Writ of Amparo

• Improve community participation

C.1 Best practices/models in Public Safety and Security (Search for the Best of the year

• Improve Coordination and Networking

D. Coordination and Administration
D.1 Quarterly meetings

Environmental Management Committee

• Creation of LGU’s Environment and Natural Resources Office (MENRO)

Meetings
Trainings/capacity-building for MENRO-designates
Establishment of MENRO as permanent positions Read more »

Urban Partnerships Program-Philippines (UPP-Philippines) Leadership Series.

Download UPPP’s Leadership Series, a learning tool for policy makers to promote understanding of pressing urban issues and encourage policy actions for urban sustainability.

Leadership Series No. 10: Bioregional planning
Leadership Series No. 9: Furnishing the Streets
Leadership Series No. 8: When Public Becomes Private
Leadership Series No. 7: Spokes in the City
Leadership Series No. 6: Urban Waterfronts: The Wave of the Future
Leadership Series No. 5: Breaking Free From the Concrete Prison
Leadership Series No. 4: Walking into a Greener Future
Leadership Series No. 3: The Gospel of Bioregionalism
Leadership Series No. 2: The Evolution of the Jeepney and Transit in Metro Iloilo
Leadership Series No. 1: The New Public Realm and the Sustainable City

Read more »

Presentation by Dr. Gary Davidson and Beate Bowron (Canadian Urban Institute) consultants.

CUI Urban and Regional Planning Program
Iloilo, September 7 – 16, 2008

Beate Bowron, FCIP, RPP, former Director of
Community Planning, City of Toronto

Dr. Gary Davidson, FCIP, RPP, former Director of
Planning and Development, County of Huron

Click link below to download
MIGEDC Focus For Action: Presentation by Gary and Beate (PDF)

By Jeehan V. Fernandez

THE business community here is optimistic that the P8-billion new Iloilo Airport at Sta. Barbara-Cabatuan towns will spawn booming industries nearby.

For one, giant real property developer Fil-Estate Land Inc. chair and CEO Robert John Sobrepeña announced the launching of the 153-hectare Sta. Barbara Heights at the hills of Barangay Inangayan on August 29.

Situated near the airport and just beside the century-old Iloilo Golf and Country Club, the P500-million new town development will host 500 housing units, recreational facilities, hotel and business district for office spaces that are expected to rise in two years time.

Iloilo Business Club executive director Lea Lara said they have identified the airport site as the next thriving investment haven. Read more »