Iloilo City impresses top PH economist A top economic expert said the growth of this metropolis is comparable to the highly-urbanized centers of Manila and Cebu. “In a recent visit to Iloilo, after two years of not seeing the city, I have come to the conclusion that Iloilo City and surrounding areas (Metro Iloilo) can become the ‘Empress City of the South,’ competing closely with Cebu in growing at above-average rates,” said Dr. Bernardo Villegas. It is highly probable, he said, that Metro Iloilo can grow at rates higher than 12 percent per annum, as US-based Filipino economist Norman Madrid has been proclaiming in his writings and speeches in recent weeks. “I attribute the dramatic changes that have occurred in Iloilo City to a new generation of young entrepreneurs who have discarded the very conservative mindset of their parents and to a more enlightened political leadership at both national and local levels,” said Villegas, an economic advisor to the Palace since the time of then President Corazon Aquino. Through close cooperation between national politicians led by Sen. Franklin Drilon and the local leadership of Mayor Jed Patrick Mabilog, the infrastructures of Iloilo City are literally taking a quantum leap, added Villegas who also sits in the influential Makati Business Club. “With improved infrastructures provided by both the national and local governments, the private sector of Metro Iloilo has without doubt been the main engine of growth of breath-taking changes happening in this Ilonggo city,” said Villegas. It also helps that Iloilo is an educational center boasting of high-quality universities, especially in such professional areas as accounting and business administration, nursing and health sciences, engineering and the sciences, and agriculture and fisheries. “Having been very familiar with Iloilo of 1970s and 1980s when I used to travel frequently to this city, I have also been struck by change in consumer behavior. The young generation is less obsessed with savings as in the past and has joined the consumer-oriented population,” he said. (Iloilo City PIO/PN)
Posted on: Tue, 27 Jan 2015 03:51:59 +0000
Trending Topics
Recently Viewed Topics
© 2015