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Senator Miriam Defensor Santiago is pushing for the establishment of a special economic zone and free port in the whole Province of Iloilo to attract big investments here and accelerate its economic growth.

This plan is contained in Senate Bill No. 3169 that the Ilongga senator filed before the Upper Chamber of Congress recently and seeks to bring her home province on a level playing field with the likes of Subic, Clark, Cebu, Cagayan de Oro and Davao by making it a special economic zone and free port.

Governor Niel Tupas, Sr. expressed full support for the legislative initiative, saying that unless Iloilo can offer the same advantages and benefits that Subic and Clark does, big manufacturers will find little incentive to bring huge capital to the province.

In a letter to Senator Santiago, Tupas said this could push the province to greater heights of glory and reclaim its old title as the “Queen City of the South”. Iloilo was already the second busiest port in the country — next only to Manila — at the turn of the 20th century because of natural advantages that it enjoys.

Iloilo’s well-protected harbor makes an ideal shipping center, and its establishment as a free port will make the idea more plausible. I’ve always advocated developing that stretch of coastline from the present International Port in Loboc to the municipal port in Naluoyan, Dumangas, with the land along the coastal road as container yards and warehouse facilitiies.

With a proposed bridge that would connect Iloilo with Guimaras, the concept becomes more attractive, as we can combine a special economic zone with a tourism zone that can rival Subic.

The Senate committees on economic affairs, ways and means, local government units, and finance temporarily chaired by another Ilonggo senator, Mar Roxas, tackled the senate bill yesterday morning. With his support, the bill is likely to be fast tracked in Congress and approved before 2010.

A group of educators from the West Visayas State University have formed a consortium to provide top-quality professional skills training for Ilonggos of all ages.

The Howell Center for Professional Development was inaugurated on Thursday evening, April 2, just across Gate 1 of the Central Philippine University, with initial course offerings on foreign languages, IELTS, public speaking and the basics of public governance. Professor Sharon Quimpo, who has done a splendid job as director of the WVSULanguage School until her resignation last month, is the executive director.

The center hopes to fill the gap in helping professionals, both in the private and public sectors, to sharpen certain competencies, notably in communications, to enhance their career advancement.

As I remarked during the inaugural program, college graduates can be considered as “rough diamonds” when they complete their university education, and the training center will help them “spot polish” the skills they need to move ahead in the career ladder.

Among the consultants who will handle courses at the center are Dr. Myrna Rico-Lopez and Prof. Majella Palacios.

The center is owned and managed by spouses Muhammed Ismael Howell.

The owners of the Howell Center for Professional Development, Mr. and Mrs. Muhammed Ismael Howell, welcoming guests.