Iloilo City Mayor Jose Espinosa III said the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) is looking to establish a regional office in the city, prompting the mayor to call on city residents to help put the city on the “map of business and tourism.”

“[USAID] is looking at where they can enter into helping our city in all aspects of governance,” he said. “Let us welcome investors and help one another and concentrate in seeing to it that Iloilo City is highlighted in the map of business and tourism.”

The mayor also made note of the recent trade mission in Iloilo City, hosted by the British Chamber of Commerce Philippines (BCCP). During the event, BCCP chairman Chris Nelson called the city an “economic hotspot.”

Meanwhile, Espinosa added, “[USAID] also invited us to go to America to observe good practices on concerns like water, how to fast-track services, and septage management.”/WDJ