Biz club says no to Esplanade extension

THE Iloilo Business Club (IBC) backed the Iloilo City government’s opposition to the possible extension of the Iloilo Esplanade project to Parola area.

IBC executive director Lea Lara said the Esplanade extension to the mouth of the Iloilo River was proposed in one of the Iloilo-Batiano River Development Council (IBRDC) meetings.

During the last IBRDC meeting on Aug 10, 2018, Iloilo City Mayor Jose Espinosa III announced his opposition to the extension as it would result in the displacement of 36 companies situated at the mouth of the river up to the front of the City Hall.

“So as long as there is no new development in the area, we want to keep the utility of the port as it is. Because the businesses there contribute to taxes,” Lara said.

Lara said there are plenty of tramping and cargo vessels that dock in the area and other businesses which are still active.

“So it is one of the requests of business groups that whatever we see now, will only be until there,” she said.

Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH-6) assistant regional Al Fruto earlier clarified that there was no proposal on their part to extend the roughly 7-kilometer Esplanade project.

The project is being implemented by DPWH in nine phases. The last phase is only until Muelle Loney Bridge.

Fruto said they could not put up any structure in the Parola area as it is a port-delineated zone being operated by the Philippine Ports Authority (PPA).

SOURCE: The Daily Guardian