ILOILO CITY – After a recent trip to the United Arab Emirates, Mayor Jerry Treñas has renewed plans for land reclamation to boost growth and development here.

THE proposal of Marikudo Real Estate Development Corp. for the reclamation project in Iloilo City in 2017. (MREDC)
“I hope it can happen during our time. That will mean more job opportunities for Ilonggos,” said Treñas.
The proposal has been on the drawing board for decades and Treñas brought up the matter again after returning from the World Governments Summit in Dubai, United Arab Emirates.
While he said Dubai serves as an inspiration, the city itself is mostly reclaimed areas.
The development of Iloilo City for the past two decades has largely been focused in Mandurriao District, which was mostly reclaimed as it is near the Iloilo River and had vast salt beds.
The SM Group, Ayala Land Inc., Megaworld Corp., and Gaisano Group have multi-billion developments, including malls, hotels, and condominium buildings, in Mandurriao District.
Treñas wants reclamation focused in the City Proper District, particularly the Fort San Pedro area across the island-province of Guimaras and divided by the body of water known as Iloilo Strait.
The proposal is eyeing 300 meters for commercial and residential areas. There is also another proposal in La Paz District for commercial use.
This is not the first discussion of reclamation projects here. In 2017, Marikudo Real Estate Development Corp. (MREDC) proposed a P45-billion reclamation project to the Iloilo City government. There has been no concrete development after.