As ‘adopted senator’: City taps Sen. Drilon to lobby new projects

CEBU, Philippines - To bridge its projects to the national government, Cebu City has tapped Senator Franklin Drilon, who is now called the city's "adopted senator."

"Sen. Drilon will now be the bridge getting necessary funding for our environment, infrastructure, social projects, among others because we are not getting money from the national government… We are not as quick as getting money for the relocation sites," Mayor Michael Rama announced yesterday.

According to Rama, Sen. Drilon concurred during the giving of recognition to local government unit and government officials for supporting the road-sharing scheme through the Green Loop experiment last September.

With the help of Sen. Drilon, who is a member of the Senate River Committee, Rama said the city would quickly address environmental problems, including coastal and drainage, as the city lacks political back-up and logistical support in the national government.

"Daghan kaayo og funds pero walay moabot diri kay wa may mo-connect didto. I'm going to start connecting with Drilon because he brought P25 billion project to Iloilo," he said.

Rama was referring to the state-of-the-art convention center being built inside Megaworld Corp.'s P25 billion Iloilo Business Park in Iloilo City.

It will rise between Megaworld's posh hotels, Richmonde Hotel and Marriott Courtyard Hotel. This was lobbied by Sen. Drilon, together with Iloilo Congressman Jerry Treña and Mayor Jed Patrick Mabilog.

The construction of the building is foreseen to be completed by first quarter of 2014 and functional by 2015, expecting to provide employment for the Ilonggos.

Rama claimed that he has been a friend of Drilon since the latter was still Secretary of Labor in 1989. — Kristine B. Quintas/JMD (FREEMAN)