Iloilo Governor Arthur Defensor, Jr. said that he is hoping to hear about new development projects for Iloilo and Western Visayas when President Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr. delivers his State of the Nation Address (SONA) on July 22.

“We would like to hear more than expectations, and I think that Iloilo will be mentioned because the president always mentions Iloilo and his plans for Iloilo. Since his first SONA, Iloilo has been there,” said Defensor, who has confirmed his attendance to witness the president deliver his third SONA.

The governor said he did not expect President Marcos to repeatedly mention the development of the Iloilo-Capiz-Aklan Expressway (ICAEx) and the Panay Guimaras Negros Bridges Project.

The Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) previously said that the detailed engineering design of Section A (Panay to Guimaras) is up for completion within 2024 and will be completely delivered by the end of the term of Marcos in 2028.

ICAEx features a state-of-the-art, full-access controlled toll expressway with four lanes.

The project, spanning approximately 210 kilometers, will connect two bustling cities and 20 municipalities across the three provinces.

Nevertheless, he said that it has already reached the attention of the President what Iloilo seeks to achieve, and their job “is to push for it.”

“We are always at the forefront of the programs and the priorities of the administration. Based on that, we are happy, and we are thankful. We really look forward to working closely with the administration,” he added.

The governor also said he was happy about the president’s decision to appoint Senator Sonny Angara to head the Department of Education.

“He’s the best man for our educational system. We need a former legislator for the education secretary. Why? The most important job of a secretary is to lobby for the budget of classrooms and our teachers, and he can do that. Senator Sonny Angara will be the best champion of the budget for education in both the House and the Senate. And we are happy that he is there,” he said. (PNA)