ILOILO CITY – Business tycoon Oscar Lopez, chairman of the Lopez Group of Companies, called on Ilonggo local officials and business leaders here to make the city's glorious past as an inspiration in moving forward and make Iloilo the "Queen City of the South once again."

"I personally believe Iloilo City can become Queen of the South once again, able to compete against all corners for economic primary," Lopez, who was the keynote speaker, at the 1st Investment Forum organized by the Iloilo Economic Development Foundation, said.

Lopez, who was born here in 1930, said he and his siblings Geny and Presy I were raised “in a city then at peak of its grandeur.”

But what saddens him, he said, is that today Iloilo is not too prominent in the national consciousness.

“As Iloilo lost its significance as a transhipment port for sugar and as the nation's sugar industry declined greatly, so much of Iloilo 's economic power also declined. The title ‘ Queen City of the South' was claimed by another,” he said, noting that many Ilonggo tycoons moved to Manila where they built newer and larger business empires, including his father, Eugenio Sr.

But he said that although the Lopezes are now based in Metro Manila, they have never lost their affection for the city of their childhood, and have tried to take advantage of the opportunity to participate in the development of Iloilo .

The Lopezes formerly owned a 30-percent stake in Panay Electric Company, and also later sold the diesel-fired Panay Power Plant to Mirant, an independent power producer. Lopez-owned companies now operating in Iloilo include ABS-CBN, Sky Cable and Bayantel.

'A LOT OF HOPE'

“I guess all of us Ilonggos have to take responsibility for what Iloilo has become and what it should be,” Lopez said, quoting ILED Foundation president Rex Drilon's description of Iloilo as like the Ilonggo song, "Ay, ay kalisud," a plaintive song about a woman abandoned by her lover.

But, he said, today at last, there is a lot of hope in the air even if Iloilo 's troubles are far from over. We realize Iloilo has a lot of catching up to do just to keep apace with the new queen cities of the south such as Cebu, Davao, Cagayan de Oro and yes, even Bacolod. The good news is, things are starting to move.

Lopez cited the planned construction of a coal-fired power plant here that will respond, he said, to Iloilo 's pressing power need. He also lauded the new airport in Sta. Barbara and Cabatuan towns that, he said, puts to shame Manila 's decrepit domestic airport.

He added that the entry of retail giants, property developers, and business process outsourcing companies like call center is expected to trigger the inflow of even more investments here.

Lopez also welcomed the plan of real estate developer Megaworld to transform the 54-hectare old Iloilo airport into a central business district, a new development that will supply the business and visitors' infrastructure needed by potential investors.

Lopez said that with leaders of the business community, civil society along with Mayor Jerry Treñas and Governor Niel Tupas Sr. uniting to form the ILED Foundation, with a mandate to market and promote Iloilo as the next investment destination Asia, both the city and province of Iloilo will be transformed into a new kind of economic powerhouse.*NLG

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