ILOILO CITY – The Metro Iloilo-Guimaras Economic Development Council (MIGEDC) and Sweden on Tuesday formalized an agreement for a PHP33-million grant from Swedfund International for a feasibility study to determine the viability of establishing a bus rapid transport (BRT) system in Metro Iloilo and Guimaras.
The agreement was signed by Iloilo City acting Mayor Jeffrey Ganzon on behalf of MIGEDC chairperson, Mayor Jerry Treñas, and Harald Fries, Chargé d’affaires of the Swedish Embassy.
Johan Lennefalk, Trade Commissioner to the Philippines; Giselle Yap, Senior Trade Promotions Officer of the Embassy of Sweden; and Mae Balandan, Consultant from Business Sweden, witnessed the agreement signing at the City Mayor’s Office.
The study will include technical assessments, financial projections, and environmental and social impact analyses to ensure the proposed system is sustainable and beneficial to the local community.
In an interview, Fries said the assistance was an offshoot of the visit of former Ambassador Annika Thunborg in March 2023 when she met representatives from Iloilo to discuss possible business partnerships.
“It was clear to her that Iloilo was a very good partner in terms of being a business-friendly, progressive, safe city. She saw that there was a good opportunity for partnership here. In the discussions, it was clear that the urban transportation situation was an area, which was identified here as a priority and where Sweden could offer support,” he added.
Iloilo City is the first local government unit in the country chosen for the grant under Swedfund International.
Ganzon said the assistance will help reshape the landscape of Metro Iloilo to be better prepared for the future.
“This is a great help for the city, considering that they have this feasibility study intended to be implemented in a strategic area. I think they have enough consultants to see to it that it is doable. We are grateful to the Swedish government for deciding to implement it first in Iloilo City,” he said.
MIGEDC executive director Velma Jane Lao, meanwhile, said the feasibility study would be a “big help” in attracting investors to the BRT project.
“This is just a study. But we are hoping that after the study, an investor will be attracted, or maybe an official development assistance agency, to bring it to fruition,” she said.
MIGEDC is composed of the municipalities of Oton, Leganes, Pavia, Sta. Barbara, Cabatuan, San Miguel, and the province of Guimaras.
On Monday, the team also visited the office of Governor Arthur Defensor Jr., where they discussed possible collaboration with Iloilo.
“The governor, the vice-governor, and us from team Sweden decided to continue our dialogue with the province and the city to see if we can find other areas of partnership. As I mentioned here, Iloilo really stands out as a very progressive and business-friendly city and province. We think from team Sweden that Iloilo is a very good partner for us,” Fries said. (PNA)