ILOILO CITY – Iloilo Gov. Arthur “Toto” Defensor Jr. on Tuesday, April 11, formally launched his social justice agenda called ''MoRProgGRes''  which coincided with the 122nd founding anniversary of Iloilo.
ILOILO Gov. Arthur 'Toto' Defensor Jr. speaks at the formal launching of the social justice agenda called ‘MoRProgGRes’ on Tuesday. April 11. It was the highlight of the 122nd founding anniversary of Iloilo province.  (LEDIP Center Iloilo Province)


MoRProgGRes is the acronym for Defensor’s movement for a robust, progressive, globally competitive, and resilient province consisting of 42 towns and the component city of Passi. “This is not an organization, this is not an alliance. MoRProGRes Iloilo is not just the Iloilo provincial government, it is not just the local government units, it is the whole province, it is all of us. It is a whole province approach for development and progress of Iloilo,” emphasized Defensor. The week-long celebration known as “Semana sang Iloilo” is a fusion of history, culture, sports, arts, beauty pageant, as well as the provincial government’s banner programs on the environment, agriculture, and social welfare, among others. “Our last year’s celebration of the Semana sang Iloilo was different. We were still emerging out of the pandemic,” said Defensor. Among the activities in the first day were the cheerdance competition, thanksgiving mass, ribbon-cutting for the exhibit of books written in Hiligaynon by the Sumakwelan Iloilo, a garden show, groundbreaking of the solar energy facility, unveiling of the Important Cultural Property marker for the Casa Real and Arroyo Fountain, and exhibit on the history of Iloilo.