HEARD IT THROUGH THE GRIPE-VINE: OUR NEW ABNORMAL
A lunch at China Blue, Conrad last weekend was an opportunity to meet Iloilo City Mayor Jerry Treñas, and discuss the new PPP’s (Public-Private Partnerships) the city had entered into with SM Prime for their Central and Terminal public markets. What I hadn't been forewarned about, was that Hans Sy, DENR Sec. Toni Yulo-Loyzaga, and SM Supermalls president Steven Tan would be at our table — turning the lunch into a lively and enlightening conversation about LGU’s, waste management, and sustainability.
Among the 17 UN Sustainable Development Goals you’ll find a number that often aren’t referred to, as they have more to do with social and governance agendas, as opposed to those that impact on the environment. I’m referring to: 9. Industry, innovation and infrastructure, 11. Sustainable cities and communities, and 17. Partnerships for the goals. So while there were other goals also being addressed via the new PPP’s, I liked how the conversation swirled around Iloilo City ticking the boxes of these three goals.
In an expansive mood before flying to Geneva that evening, Hans Sy was regaling the table with how more of his time was now going to be devoted to China Bank, and to NU (National University) – where he’s chairman. I loved the mention of China Bank, as I had just recently visited their heritage site in Binondo, and was very impressed by how they had maintained the original architecture, while making it a functional, “living” structure. As for NU, I think on most everyone’s mind was whether they’d be recapturing the Cheer Dance competition in 2023. Hans offers a confident “yes.”
ILOILO MAYOR Jerry Treñas (left), DENR Sec. Toni Yulo-Loyzaga (center) and Hans Sy.
A battle-scarred veteran of the political arena, Mayor Jerry first assumed the mayor’s office in 2001, served for three terms, was congressman for three terms, and just received a fresh mandate this year as mayor, for a second consecutive term in his second time around the block. With this track record and public support, there’s a marked continuity of vision that’s maintained, and has spelled success for the city. In fact, Mayor Treñas liked mentioning the anecdote of how in his “salad” days as mayor, it was the likes of then Marikina mayor Bayani Fernando that he would seek guidance from; and in full circle, he just recently received 17 Marikina local politicians who were asking him to mentor them, or offer advice.
The PPP’s being signed with SM have to do with two major public markets. With no increase of fees or displacement, and with a temporary plan in place; this is precisely why Mayor Treñas has been such an effective city administrator. He looks at all possibilities and contingencies, and creates a scenario that’s win-win for all parties, while not sacrificing the development and progress needed to make Iloilo City move forward.
As Mayor Treñas was excited to report, when completed after three years, these public markets will be the first of their “green” kind. They’ll be outfitted with solar panels, with water treatment facilities, blessed with natural light and fresh air ventilation. Even waste management has been factored in. Its sustainability coupled with “Progress Iloilo-style,” and for Mayor Jerry, that’s founded on welfare, health care, the environment, and championing education.
MAYOR JERRY Treñas (left), Hans Sy (center) and Steven Tan.
Education is all-important as Iloilo is steadily increasing its profile as an education hub for the region. BPO’s are sprouting like mushrooms in the city, attracted to the standard of manpower. In fact, Mayor Treñas reveals that his problem now is availability of office space. And that’s why there are talks planned with several of the major developers – to fast track new office buildings and co-working spaces. As compared to Bacolod that sits on 18,000 hectares, Iloilo only occupies some 7,000 hectares. So it’s limited space, with unlimited potential that this mayor is committed to realize.
This issue of space has triggered talk of establishing a Metro Iloilo, with Guimaras Island as part of the new metropolis. It’s a new vision cycle that Mayor Treñas is advocating, built on the lines of a mini-Singapore for Western Visayas. The dream is to establish a smart city, where technology, education, social services, art and culture, and quality of life, all play important roles, anchored on sustainability.
While there inevitably will be other major players in the PPPs to come for Iloilo City, the significance of having Hans Sy and Sec. Yulo-Loyzaga at this lunch was not lost on me. Together, they worked on our National Resilience Council, and Mr. Sy is the only Filipino member of the UN International Strategy for Disaster Reduction board. The two live and breathe disaster preparedness, resilience and sustainability; so to have this kind of foresight and planning allied with the vision and administrative acumen of a Mayor Jerry Treñas can only mean good things to come for the city.