Likewise, the mayor said there is an improved incentives packages facilitated through the reconstituted Iloilo Investment Incentives Board and the improved Investment Incentives Ordinance whose preparations were partly funded by the German Technical Cooperation (GTZ).

The City Government’s partnership with the Iloilo Convention and Visitors Bureau to make the city as the convention center in Western Visayas has been actively attracting visitors to the metropolis, he added.

“There is a booming real estate development and specialized focus on emerging new industries and technologies such as the Information and Communication Technology (ICT) in the city,” Treñas stressed.

He was referring to the boom of call centers including ePLDT Ventus, Call Box, Echo, Global Mega Communications Inc., Techno Call Corp and Interactive Voice Call Center as well as the introduction of medical transcription firm Medlink Transcription Services.

Treñas was also elated with the entry of the soon-to-open multi-national call center companies Teletech and Sutherland.

The city’s industry also achieved bright spot in wellness centers and spas.

FESTIVAL BOOM

“There are more vibrant festivals including Paraw Regatta and Chinese New Year. At the top is Dinagyang which was adjudged the Best Tourism Event for 2006 by the Association of Tourism Officers (ATOP) in the country, the first festival in the world to be supported by the United Nations in promoting the Millenium Development Goals,” said Treñas.

“Dinagyang has been a consistent major prize winner in the national Aliwan Festival for three consecutive years now. As a world class festival, the Dinagyang tribe also became a guest performer at the Texas Folklife Festival in San Antonio, Texas, USA,” he added.

Treñas said the city had hosted international and national conventions and special celebrations like the Fil-Hispanic Month and the closing ceremonies of the National Heritage Month in May.

Iloilo City has also been spearheading allied tourism promotion programs through the Metro Iloilo-Guimaras Economic and Development Council (MIGEDC).

INFRA PROJECTS

The city mayor likewise pointed out improvements in the mobility and traffic of goods and services through the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA)-assisted MIGEDC Transport Planning program.

The plan, dubbed as the proposed Metro Iloilo Road Network Improvement Project, involves the widening of the Iloilo-Sta. Barbara Road and construction of a By-Pass Road from Brgy. Tacas, Jaro to Zarraga passing through Leganes.

It also covers the construction of the Circumferential Road 1 to run eastward from Brgy. San Jose, Arevalo; cut across Mandurriao, Pavia, and Jaro; and connects with the Iloilo Coastal Road at Brgy. Buhang, Jaro.

A portion of the proposed radial road has already been funded and presently implemented by the national government.

The city also awaits the completion of first vehicular fly-over at Infante-Gen. Luna streets while the construction now on-going and another one at Jalandoni-Diversion Road area near SM City.

“The construction of the P4.2-billion Iloilo Flood Control Project which is expected to be finished by 2010 will mean tremendous relief for thousands of Ilonggo families whose lives and properties are always imperilled whenever flash floods occur in the city’s flood-prone areas,” Treñas pointed out.

He said even his house and that of councilors Eduardo Peñaredondo and Joe Espinosa III are also affected during the flooding.

Meanwhile, the proposed Iloilo River Boulevard Project will be established starting from Gaisano City area to Jalandoni Bridge passing through Diversion Road to Carpenter’s Bridge in Molo to southwest of the old airport in Mandurriao.

TRAFFIC

Treñas said the establishment of perimeter boundary terminals has helped reduce the number of public utility vehicles at any given time in the city, thus lessen traffic congestion.

To address the worsening traffic problem, Treñas said the city planning and engineering personnel have availed training on Sustainable Urban Transport in Asia and the Pacific in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

“It was an excellent opportunity for the city to learn something about transport system from the country’s Asean neighbors through the City Traffic Management Planning of the CITYNET, a worldwide association of cities,” Treñas affirmed.

He said the proposed JICA-assisted transport and traffic management program will be implemented soon to fine-tune the city’s transportation system.