PNoy endorses LP bets in Iloilo

PASSI CITY , Philippines   â€“ After leading the groundbreaking of the P48.1-million upgrade of the Roxas City Airport in Capiz province, President Benigno Simeon Aquino III on Wednesday went to Passi City and Sta. Barbara town in Iloilo to endorse the Liberal Party candidates in that province. 

In Passi City, Aquino publicly endorsed the reelection bid of Iloilo Governor Arthur Defensor Sr, Raul Tupas for vice governor, former Iloilo Governor Niel D. Tupas Sr for congressman of the 4th District of Iloilo, re-electionist Rep. Niel Tupas Jr for the 5th district of Iloilo, Passi City Councilor Aura Layese for mayor of this city and all the party’s candidates of Iloilo’s 4th district.

Local Government Secretary Mar Roxas told The Freeman that the president had wanted to go back to Iloilo because he wanted to put up projects there considering that development in Iloilo City has been very fast.

Infrastructure projects for investment and tourism, among others, have made Iloilo City currently the center of development not only in Western Visayas but also in Central Visayas.

“The president really wanted to fast-track the development in other places of the province which he had seen behind in progress, like Passi City,” said Roxas, adding that Aquino would like to help but then he could not trust yet the present leadership in Passi and in the 4th district.

The LP’s candidate in Passi City is last-term Councilor Layese, who will be facing incumbent Mayor Jesry Palmares who have been the city mayor several times in the past.

Meanwhile, Aquino led the groundbreaking of the Roxas Airport development project, which involves the expansion and improvement of the passenger terminal building and extension of the runway, according to an ABS-CBN report the other day.

The terminal expansion is expected to accommodate 291,000 passengers a year, up from its current annual capacity of 153,000 passengers. The runway will also be lengthened by 120 meters more to improve the safety of Airbus A320 planes using the airport.

The two projects has an approved budget of P48.1 million, the contract for which was awarded to MAC Builders, as part of the P215-million airport upgrading project, which covers also the installation of night landing facilities, new fire trucks and resettlement of informal settlers there, among others. (FREEMAN)