Drilon cites Iloilo project as proof of responsible use of pork barrel

SUNSET VIEW Some residents of Iloilo City watch the sunset from the Iloilo River North Bank Road in this photo taken on Jan. 17. Also called Sunset Boulevard, the four-lane road with paved sidewalk and bike lane was constructed through the help of former Senate President Franklin Drilon and was officially opened on Friday. —IAN PAUL CORDERO

With debates swirling around pork barrel funds and congressional insertions in the national budget, former Senate President Franklin Drilon showcased the Iloilo Sunset Boulevard in Iloilo City as a prime example of responsible use of public funds allocated to lawmakers.

“This project is proof that pork barrel funds, when used with integrity and transparency, can serve as a powerful tool for national and countryside development—not a means to enrich one’s pocket,” Drilon said during the opening of the boulevard on Friday.

The Iloilo Sunset Boulevard, launched in 2021 with a P1.261-billion allocation, was funded through Drilon’s initiative using his pork barrel lodged in the budget of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH), the implementing agency.

The former senator described the boulevard as proof that pork barrel funds can transform a city.

The Iloilo Sunset Boulevard features scenic views of sunsets, migratory birds and serene fishing spots along the Iloilo River. The project seeks to address transportation challenges in the city and nearby towns, he added.

Boosting tourism, business

Drilon emphasized the project’s potential to boost tourism, attract investments and stimulate economic growth in Iloilo City and neighboring areas.

“During my tenure as a senator, I made it a personal mission to ensure that every peso of my allocations would contribute to the development and progress of our country, particularly Iloilo. This boulevard is just one of the many projects that demonstrate where my funds, or pork barrel, went throughout my tenure,” Drilon, who served in the Senate for 24 years, said in a statement.

The Iloilo Sunset Boulevard is the latest of the big-ticket projects that Drilon helped realize and which helped boost the economy of Iloilo.

Other initiatives that he helped fund include the Iloilo River Esplanade, Iloilo Convention Center, Corazon Aquino Avenue, Benigno Aquino Avenue, and renovations of Molo Plaza, Jaro Plaza and Sunburst Park.