ILOILO CITY (PIA) — Senator Franklin Drilon expressed optimism that the P2.4-billion infrastructure projects which will be implemented starting November will help improve the economic situation of the city and province of Iloilo as well as generate more employment.

Drilon said during the meeting of the Iloilo River Development Council that President Benigno S. Aquino III supports the Ilonggos “to enable us to improve our infrastructure and spur economic development in the city and province of Iloilo.”

The projects will cover the Iloilo Radial Road, P217-million; Iloilo Circumferential Road, R1.7-billion; Jaro-Leganes Road, P423-million and Esplanade, P70-million.

The Ilonggo senator assured “transparency” in the implementation of the projects.

“On October 7, we will bid out the projects or portions of them so that this will signal the start of the construction of the projects,” Dri-lon said.

“We hope to be able to execute these on time,” he said expressing confidence “that by the next two or three years, there will be a lot of infrastructure activity in the city”.

Drilon also said that President Aquino has approved the request of the Iloilo River Development Council for an additional amount for the housing project for the informal settlers along Iloilo River.

The total amount for the housing project is now P244 million, Drilon said as he emphasized the urgency of the Iloilo River’s rehabilitation and conservation.