President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. led the Alyansa Para sa Bagong Pilipinas senatorial candidates in wooing Ilonggo votes as they held their national rally in this city’s Mandurriao District on Thursday.
The President took pride in presenting before the more than 35,000 crowd at the Iloilo City Center that the Alyansa is the only group with a complete list of candidates for all elective posts – from national, down to the lowest Sangguniang Bayan.
All 12 senatorial bets – Reps. Erwin Tulfo and Camille Villar; re-electionist Senators Francis Tolentino, Lito Lapid, Ramon “Bong” Revilla, Pia Cayetano, and Imee Marcos; Makati Mayor Abby Binay, and former senators Manny Pacquiao, Tito Sotto, and Panfilo Lacson; and former interior secretary Benhur Abalos – were present at the rally.
At a press briefing before rally, the senatoriables also assured Ilonggos of their commitment to infrastructure and tourism development in the region.
Abalos urged Ilonggos to adopt their group in the absence of an Ilonggo senator in the Senate.
He said among the things he could do for Iloilo is to push for the development of its international airport and the Panay-Guimaras-Negros Occidental Bridge.
“It’s all about creating an environment for investments and at the same time creating jobs,” Abalos said.
Tolentino, meanwhile, echoed his support for the bridge project and expressed backing for the proposed 210-km. Iloilo-Capiz-Aklan Expressway and a bus rapid transit system in Iloilo City.
“I see Iloilo as a hub for medical tourism, so there is a need to strengthen medical tourism in Iloilo. As mentioned by Sec(retary) Benhur, the redevelopment of your airport would really catalyze growth for the tourism sector,” he said.
Tolentino also lauded the Sunset Boulevard as a symbol of urban renewal but there is also a need to widen adjacent areas to enable the new road project to achieve its full potential.
Villar, who traces her roots in Iloilo, said there are two things they can push for in Iloilo – the infrastructure, which she said is good for the economy and will generate more jobs, and the tourism industry. (PNA)
