Iloilo City Mayor Jerry Treñas has praised President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. for his thorough understanding of the issues facing Western Visayas, particularly the power and water supply challenges in Iloilo City. During a Regional Development Council (RDC) meeting on February 13, 2025, which the President personally chaired, Treñas highlighted the region’s pressing concerns.
With nearly four decades of public service under his belt, Treñas noted that this was the first instance he had seen a President directly oversee an RDC meeting. He was impressed by Marcos Jr.’s grasp of the proposed and ongoing infrastructure projects, including the Jalaur River Multipurpose Project.
The President stressed the importance of further studies into Iloilo’s water and power shortages. Treñas also updated Marcos Jr. on the city’s negotiations with Aboitiz InfraCapital for a bulk water supply project, expressing optimism about its potential to alleviate some of the city’s water issues, contingent on the completion of the Jalaur dam.
Addressing the city’s escalating power needs, Treñas shared insights from Roel Castro of MORE Power, noting a 15% annual increase in electricity consumption and the urgent need for a new baseload power plant.
The meeting also covered the proposed Panay Guimaras Bridge, which the President hopes to commence construction on this year. Additionally, Marcos Jr. expressed his desire to see the completion of the Jalaur project, which aims to irrigate 4,000 hectares of rice land and significantly boost rice production in Iloilo. The President also showed awareness of the Panay River Basin Project, intended to mitigate flooding in Capiz through the construction of a high dam and irrigation of agricultural lands.