In photo: Iloilo City Mayor Jed Patrick Mabilog and USAID Mission Director Gloria Steele exchange copies of the memorandum of understanding for the Cities Development Initiative (CDI) program. The signing is witnessed by (left to right) U.S. Deputy Chief of Mission Leslie Bassett, Sen. Franklin Drilon and DILG Usec. Austere Panadero.

ILOILO CITY - The Cities Development Initiatives (CDI) program of the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) is seen to spur the socio-economic growth of Metro Iloilo and Guimaras.

“This is an opportunity for Iloilo City to harness its potential as one of the growth centers in the region”, said Undersecretary Austere Panadero of the Department of the Interior and Local Government.

An integral component of the U.S.-Philippine partnership for Growth, CDI aims to address the constraints of investment and economic growth of Iloilo through public-private partnership (PPP).

Panadero considers CDI to be strong boost in Iloilo City’s role in leading the development and growth of neighboring areas.

“I am confident that Iloilo City will further reinforce its leadership role in the Metro Iloilo-Guimaras Economic Development Council (MIGEDC),” Panadero emphasized.

MIGEDC is composed of Iloilo City and neighboring towns of Leganes, Pavia, Santa Barbara, and San Miguel and the five towns of the nearby island province of Guimaras.

Panadero added that CDI may even promote the competitiveness of Metro Iloilo-Guimaras as well as transforming MIGEDC into a stronger alliance as those found in the National Capital Region (NCR).

CDI will harness the city’s economic growth potential through a collaborative effort in key areas of concerns including energy, environment, health and higher education.

Aside from Iloilo, USAID has also selected Batangas and Cagayan de Oro as CDI partners. “Iloilo City has been selected because it demonstrated economic potential,” said Gloria Steele, USAID Mission Director for the Philippines.###

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