Jaro district, Iloilo City (Photo by Paulo Alcazaren)
Iloilo City Lone District Rep. Julienne L. Baronda hopes to generate more job opportunities for her constituents through the creation of the Metro Iloilo Special Economic Zone and Free Port.
In a press conference on Monday, Oct. 7, the congresswoman said she is now in the process of finalizing her proposed bill that will be submitted when the House of Representatives resumes session in November.
“We envision Iloilo City as the Silicon Valley of the country,” she added, as she cited that most of Information Technology graduates and those who are doing well in software making are employed abroad.
Instead of them going abroad, it would be better if software companies will be invited to invest in this city.
She said that she already met thrice with President Rodrigo Duterte where she broached the idea of declaring part of this city as special economic zone.
“He is only waiting for the study from NEDA (National Economic and Development Authority). We already requested NEDA to endorse it to the Office of the President,” she said.
The special economic zone is being eyed to be placed in Iloilo City’s Jaro district.
Meantime, she reported that on her first 100 days on office, she was able to file 21 bills that once passed will bring into reality her campaign promise she dubbed HOPE (health, obra (jobs), peace and order and education).
She said that her bill seeking to increase the bed capacity of the Western Visayas Medical Center (WVMC) from 425 to 700 was approved by the House Committee on Health and will be calendared for plenary deliberation.
“Once passed into law, this will decongest WVMC and enable more Ilonggos to avail of its services,” she said.
Baronda also filed a bill mandating the appointment of five barangay health workers in every barangay and recognition of X-linked Dystonia Parkinsonism (XDP) as rare Filipino disease and create an XDP center to spearhead research.
She also co-authored 26 other house bills.PNA
