Iloilo City Mayor Jerry Treñas is confident that the economy of Western Visayas will quickly recover from the effects of the coronvirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic.
Yesterday, June 10, governors and mayors of highly urbanized cities in Western Visayas held a meeting in Iloilo City to come up with a unified plan for the economic recovery of the region.
“All of our leaders are working together and para sa akon, kon sige-sigehon naton ini, mas madasig ang aton recovery para diri sa Region VI,” said Treñas.
“Para sa akon, among the regions [in the country], I think we have a chance to be among the first nga maka-recover,” the mayor added.
The region, which is currently under the modified community quarantine (MGCQ), has 25 active cases of COVID-19 as of June 10.
Of the remaining infected patients, majority are repatriated overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) and locally stranded individuals (LSIs).
“Basta sige ang sulod sang aton repatriates kag conduct sang tests, may ara gid na nga mapositive,” Treñas said.
The region’s local chief executives are expecting that the region will shift from MGCQ to the “new normal” after June 15.
According to Alfredo Benitez, the economic affairs consultant for Negros Occidental, Western Visayas incurred a loss of about P20 billion in its gross regional domestic product (GRDP).
The estimate does not include losses from remittances and jobs of overseas Filipino workers (OFW).
Benitez presented the Partnership for Region VI Recovery and Development (PRRD) during the meeting, which was also participated by Ilonggo Senator Franklin Drilon.IMT
Photo by Arnold Almacen
