By Joseph B.A. Marzan and Emme Rose Santiagudo
Leaders of the cities and provinces in Western Visayas will meet June 10, 2020 to discuss strategies to restart the regional economy once the Modified General Community Quarantine (MGCQ) period ends on June 15, or the so-called new normal.
In a press conference Monday, Iloilo City Mayor Jerry Treñas confirmed that he will hold an online meeting with the governors from Aklan, Antique, Capiz, Guimaras, Iloilo, Negros Occidental, and Bacolod City Mayor Evelio “Bing” Leonardia to discuss the region’s economic direction.
“We really want to start talking on how all of us can work together so we can speed up economic recovery in our region,” Treñas said.
Officials of national government agencies and government-owned and controlled corporations were invited to the meeting:
-Department of Agriculture-Region 6 (DA-6) Director Remelyn Ricoter;
-National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) Acting Director-General Karl Kendrick Chua;
-Development Bank of the Philippines (DBP) President Emmanuel Herbosa; and
-officials from the Land Bank of the Philippines and the Public-Private Partnership (PPP) Center.
Treñas said the meeting will focus on various aspects of the region’s economic recovery after the community quarantine periods.
“We will discuss the common areas, our different priorities which will be synergized. Like for us here, what products we need to sell, where do we look for supply chains, what else do we need to do for economic stimulus,” he said.
He also stressed the need to jumpstart the economy and rebound from the impacts of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19).
“They are saying that we have to jumpstart the economy because right now, many people do not have jobs. For the first time, we have reached an unemployment of 17.7 percent, which translates to a total of 7.3 million Filipinos, and when you multiply that by five, it means around 36 million people are below the poverty line,” he said.
CITY’S ECONOMY
Treñas said that the city government will push for Public-Private Partnership or PPP projects, such as improvement of public markets, solid waste management programs, and slaughterhouse.
“Ang mga economic projects under PPP tulod ta gid that is why gintawgan ko na ang PPP center for our three projects, slaughterhouse, mass transport and solid waste management. Ginapabalikan ko kon may interested parties,” he said.
Treñas confirmed that he also met with the city government’s department heads to see how they will steer the local economy in the post-community quarantine scenario.
“I also met with the department heads. First is really to make sure that the budgets are well-appropriated in our [Internal Revenue Allotment] and our [Special Education Fund], and we can easily implement them. Second, our economic projects under the [Public-Private Partnership], we will push for them,” Treñas said.
He said that the city government is also looking to improve the Ortiz Wharf for better connectivity between Iloilo City and Guimaras province.
ILOILO PROVINCE
Iloilo Governor Arthur Defensor Jr. said that the province’s economic recovery plan is focused on agriculture, tourism, and public transportation.
The plan is being developed by the Provincial Planning and Development Office.
“Our priority will be agriculture because there are a lot of unsold products as well as a loss in capital. And then the tourism industry because of zero tourist arrivals and then the public sector because of restriction on transportation. But of course almost everybody is affected,” Defensor said in a press release.
The governor said that the challenge for the provincial government is how to translate the plan into tangible programs and projects.
“You have the direction which is this but you have to reduce it into budget. What will you add into the strategy and budget of the province for 2020? That is the challenge. What will be your innovations for you to say that you have a recovery program that will really stimulate the economy?” the governor said.
The provincial government has estimated that the province has lost up to more than P10 billion in various industries like tourism during the Enhanced Community Quarantine period from March 15 to April 30.
