By Tara Yap

The City and Province of Iloilo must plan ahead to address impending congestion of ports and roads as the regional capital.
Ronilo Balbieran, an infrastructure and budget consultant to government agencies, urged for alignments of port developments and road expansions in the regional center of Western Visayas.
“Iloilo must not repeat the mistake of Metro Manila,” said Balbieran during the May 13 forum of the Supply Chain Management Association of the Philippines held in Iloilo City.
Developments of high-valued land were stagnant as many trucks were congesting roads leading to and from the Port of Manila.
Two ports are presently active in the province, one at Iloilo City and the other at Dumangas town.
The local government units of Iloilo City and Iloilo province are urged to work with Department of Transportation (DOTr), Philippine Ports Authority (PPA), Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH), and the Iloilo Business Club (IBC).
“Don’t wait too long to plan,” Balbieran said.
For his part, IBC Vice Chairman Terence Uygongco admitted that issues hounding supply chains affect local businesses as it hikes operational costs./WDJ