Newly-elected member of the House of Representatives Julienne Baronda in the lone district of Iloilo City visited the NEDA Region VI Office on July 2, 2019 to meet the Management Committee led by Director Ro-Ann Bacal and OIC-ARD Gilberto Altura.

Cong. Baronda discussed her programs and projects for Iloilo City which will lead to making Iloilo City a smart city and ICT capital of the Visayas through a planned ecozone project. Major infrastructure projects for the city in coordination with Mayor Jerry Treñas include an Integrated Transport System, expansion of the Iloilo Airport, Iloilo City Hospital, and implementation of the Iloilo City Drainage Master Plan.  All these shall be put in place within the term of President Duterte.

RD Bacal gave her comments and suggestions on specific projects proposed by Cong. Baronda. She informed her of the NEDA-initiated projects bearing on the development of Iloilo City such as the Sustainable Infrastructure Master Plan Study for Metro Iloilo, the national impact evaluation of the RORO terminal system under the Strong Republic Nautical Highway, and the upcoming comparative study of seaports in the region, among others. She also emphasized the role of RDC and NEDA in the review, endorsement and monitoring of projects in the region. (mtgg/DRD)