Gov. Arthur Defensor Jr. said he is looking forward to including development projects for Iloilo and Western Visayas in the upcoming third State of the Nation Address (SONA) of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on July 22, 2024.
“I think Iloilo will be mentioned because the President has always mentioned Iloilo and his plans for the province. Halin sang umpisa, biskan sa una nga SONA sang Presidente, Iloilo has always been there,” Defensor said during his regular press conference on July 10, 2024.
Defensor said he does not expect Marcos to include again in his speech some of the major infrastructure projects for Western Visayas that were already on the drawing board of the administration such as the revival of the Panay Railway, and construction of the Iloilo-Capiz-Aklan Expressway (ICAEX) and the Panay-Guimaras-Negros Bridge.
“Mas mayo gid kun may mga bag-o kita nga mga development projects for Iloilo and the whole region,” he said.
The Iloilo governor has been invited to attend the SONA.
Nevertheless, Defensor thanked Marcos for putting Iloilo at the forefront of the programs and priorities of the administration.
The governor is joining the launching of the Green, Green, Green Program, today, at Roxas Boulevard Promenade in Pasay City. The province of Iloilo is a recipient of the program which is under the Local Government Support Fund (LGSF).
“We are always at the forefront of the programs and the priorities of the administration. We are happy and we are very thankful, and we are looking forward to working more closely with the administration,” he said. (With a report from Vic Arroyo/ UPV Intern)
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