Mayor Jed Patrick Mabilog expressed gratitude to President Rodrigo Duterte for giving the Ilonggos the time to celebrate 80th Iloilo City Charter Day on August 25, 2017 declared as a holiday in the metropolis.
Malacañang, through Executive Secretary Salvador Medialdea, issued Proclamation No. 253 declaring the special non-working day.
“It is but fitting and proper that the people of the City of Iloilo, be given full opportunity to celebrate and participate in the occasion with appropriate ceremonies,” the proclamation states.
“This time will also give meaning and will call on all Ilonggos to cooperate, partner, and collaborate with the City Government in various programs to ensure the success of every endeavor that would benefit everybody, especially the underprivileged,” said Mabilog.
The 40-day celebration will kick off on July 17 with a 7am mass at San Jose Placer Parish Church to be followed by a carousel parade around City Hall to be participated by City Government employees, barangay officials, and students among others.
The City Tourism and Development Office has also lined up various activities for the month-long celebration.
“We have a lot of activities but the highlight is the Iloilo City Charter Day Ball on August 24 where we will recognize outstanding Ilonggos and outstanding employees of City Hall,” said Mabilog.
He added that on August 25, the Philippine Philharmonic Orchestra (PPO) and Sarah Geronimo will stage separate concerts at Iloilo Convention Center. PPO will have another free show on August 26.
In 80 years as a Chartered City, being resilient despite the many disasters is one of the biggest achievements of the residents, said Mabilog.
“We have seen what Iloilo City is today compared to what it was before. So this means whatever it takes, as long as you are an Ilonggo, there is always unity among us,” stressed Mabilog.
“For the past years, Ilonggos have also shown how intelligent they are through making different strategic developmental plans and that they have the political will to implement what is morally right rather than what is politically correct on various programs here in the city, especially through the restoration of our Iloilo River,” the mayor added.
Iloilo City is now closed to achieving its dream to become a globally competitive city, exclaimed Mabilog.
“We have seen the recent development and growth in the city especially on infrastructure. We are hoping to position ourselves to be a local government unit that is globally competitive and if I were to ask where we are now, we are almost there. Doing everything that we can do to achieve our dream to be a Premier SMART City of Excellence that is globally competitive,” said Mabilog.
As the city’s vision, SMART stands for Services, Manufacturing and agri-business, Arts and culture, Research and technology, and Tourism as priority potential areas of investments and inclusive growth. [via Iloilo City PIO]
