Press Release
February 16, 2016

POE PUSHES FOR ILOILO-GUIMARAS BRIDGE

Presidential race frontrunner Sen. Grace Poe expressed support for the proposed Iloilo-Guimaras Island Bridge to boost economic development in the Western Visayas region.

The planned 2.6-kilometer bridge would connect Iloilo to Guimaras, easing flow of goods and services. It will also boost tourism in the region, which is known for its white-sand beaches, the senator said.

Poe, a daughter of Iloilo, said building helpful infrastructure such as the Iloilo-Guimaras road network would be a top priority for her "Gobyernong may Puso," which will set aside seven percent of the country's Gross Domestic Product for infrastructure development, if she wins the presidency.

"Sabi ko, kung ako ang magiging pangulo ay talagang siguraduhin natin na maaprubahan na agad-agad at may pondo ang Iloilo to Guimaras, Guimaras to Negros bridge," said Poe in a radio interview. "Within two to three years, dapat tapos na iyan. So dapat pag-upong, pag-upo pa lang, iyan ang priority ko."

The Regional Development Council (RDC) of Western Visayas has already submitted a proposal to the National Economic Development Authority to construct the inter-island bridge. The project, which is estimated to cost P3.5-billion, has attracted the interest of the private sector.

"Tingan ninyo, may 160,000 na nakatira diyan sa Guimaras, di ba? Ngayon, maraming pwedeng nakatira dito o doon... hindi na kailangang mag-ferry. Tapos siyempre, mas mabilis ang daloy ng produkto at ang daming trabahong malilikha kapag nag-umpisa tayo ng bridge," Poe said.

Poe is in Iloilo with her running mate, Sen. Francis Escudero--who also tops the vice-presidential preference surveys--and the senatorial bets running under their coalition "Partido Galing at Puso." While running as independents, the team has been warmly welcomed in all provinces.

Poe, who was abandoned at the Jaro Church as an infant, is the first foundling to run for president. Iloilo delivered 121,783 votes for Poe in 2013, when the adopted daughter of movie icons Fernando Poe Jr. and Susan Roces garnered more than 20 million votes, the highest ever received by a candidate for a national post.

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