Mabilog to meet Ilonggo communities in US trip

By Lydia C. Pendon

AFTER soliciting P25 million from an Ilonggo billionaire, Iloilo City Mayor Jed Patrick E. Mabilog will fly to the United States to seek help from Ilonggo communities to fund key projects of his administration.

Mabilog said he will meet two Ilonggo organizations in the US to market the city and seek their help.

Mabilog said his trip on November 2-13, 2010 will also include receiving awards in behalf of the city for various environmental programs and projects recognized by LIVCOM Program in Chicago, USA.

He will also be meeting with the Ilonggo community in Chicago and proceed to Maryland on November 9 to meet another big group of Ilonggo Fil-Ams to tell them about Iloilo City and the race to achieve the status of a Premier City by 2015.

Mabilog will ask contributions from Ilonggo American communities for projects on education, low-cost housing, crisis management and public safety and police assistance.

Mabilog said the “wish list” was requested by Ilonggo communities in Chicago and Maryland for them to know how they can help the city.

The education projects include acquisition of instructional materials and textbooks, classrooms, computer sets and day care centers.

For low cost housing, the program includes adopt-a-housing unit and installation of water system at the relocation site.

Under the infrastructure sector, the project includes a mini-gym. For crisis management, donations for an ambulance, tools and equipment for emergency response are needed.

For public safety and police assistance, the donation includes uniforms and equipment to auxiliary traffic aides and barangay police auxiliary and movable railings for traffic and pedestrian use.

Joining Mabilog in the US trip are Councilor Edward Yee, city legal officer Jose Junio Jacela and Ilonggo businessmen Felicito Tiu and Antonio Lim who are the chairman and vice chairman, respectively, of the Iloilo City Trade and Investment Promotions Board.

Mabilog recently received a P25-million pledge from businessman Edgar “Injap” Sia II for the construction of the Iloilo City public college building.