Governor Arthur Defensor Jr. personally presented three funding request letters to Department of Budget and Management (DBM) Secretary Amenah F. Pangandaman during his visit to the DBM Central Office in Manila on July 8, 2025. The letters outlined proposed development projects for the province of Iloilo.
Firstly, he requested for additional funding for the completion of the Jalaur River Multi-purpose Project (JRMP) Stage II amounting to Php 5,961,320.196.33. Said request for funding has the endorsement of the Regional Development Council (RDC) 6 per Resolution No. 2, Series of 2025.
Secondly, Governor Defensor requested for the reinstatement of the reverted Local Government Support Fund (LGSF) for the Province of Iloilo amounting to Php 202,479,201.86 which was reverted to the National Treasury.
The amount was the unexpended LGSF from Fiscal Year 2021 budget for barangay projects in Iloilo province under the National Task Force To End Local Communist Armed Conflict (NTF-ELCAC).
He cited that the reinstated amount will be used for the following projects:
1) Construction of Pototan Commercial Complex – Php 25,000,000
2) Concreting of local roads in various municipalities/city – Php 210,000,000
Finally, Governor Defensor requested for fund assistance in the amount of Php 250 million for the proposed smart government center in barangays Bolong Oeste and Inangayan, Santa Barbara.
Currently, the Department of Public Works and Highways is implementing Phase I of the project funded through an initial Php 100 million facilitated by former Senator Ramon “Bong” Revilla.
Aside from a government center, the project which covers 5.6 hectares, will include state-of-the-art sports arena cum convention and regional training centers, accommodation/residential facilities, and mixed-use developments.
DBM Undersecretary Wilford Will Wong joined Secretary Pangandaman in the meeting with Governor Defensor.
#morprogresiloilo