Drilon's worry with Diversion Road 'eyesores'

“A day of worry is more exhausting than a week of work.” JOHN LUBBOCK

By Alex P. Vidal

SENATE President Franklin Drilon called the drinking establishments and talaba (oyster) stalls along the Sen. Benigno S. Aquino Sr. Avenue or Diversion Road as “eyesores” and wanted them removed from the widened areas.

Before the highway was rehabilitated and widened, it served as the enclave of videoke bars and talaba stalls for many years.

Drinking establishments mushroomed all the way from Brgy. San Rafael, Mandurriao district to Brgy. El 98, Jaro district since the incumbency of Iloilo City Mayor Mansueto Malabor in the 90's.

With the newly-refurbished Diversion Road, financed mostly by Drilon’s Disbursement Acceleration Program (DAP) funds or “pork barrel”, those establishments disappeared from the map one by one.

Either they were demolished to pave the way for the project, or were forced to transfer during the road-widening.

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Their locations have been replaced by spacious sidewalks and lampposts.

Which made us think which drinking establishments Drilon was referring to?

There are remnants of small talabahan in the back or within the parameters of the highway, but they can’t attract the sight of motorists who are, in fact, mostly impressed by the highway’s modern lay-out.

There are several restaurants, 24-hour mini-marts and hotels along the highway that serve beer and liquor to customers.

But they can’t be considered as “eyesores” because drinks are served inside the bars or premises of these establishments and restaurants.

And their existence is part of the “night life” in that area.

Without those establishments, there is no “night life” and warm bodies of people going to and fro the bars, hotels and restaurants in the vicinity.

If partygoers and tourists will shy away, businesses in this area will die a natural death.

We understand the concerns of Drilon, whose efforts to bring development and beautification in the metropolis became full swing and was fast-tracked under the administration of Iloilo City Mayor Jed Patrick Mabilog.

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By eyesores he probably meant private establishments “squatting” or “encroaching” on government property which were not immediately addressed.

Since massive works and development are still ongoing in the Diversion Road, it’s too early to segregate the businesses.

As more companies, restaurants, hotels and shopping malls construct buildings in the area, more problems are expected to surface in the long run.

It ain’t over yet until the fat lady sings, as the saying goes.

It’s good that Drilon brought the matter to the attention of city hall, which has an agency tasked to handle the matter.

Even if he is the third highest official of the land and a project donor (through government funds) to boot, Drilon cannot dictate to city hall on what to do with those “eyesores” or whatever they are.

It’s the job of the city mayor.

But Drilon can always suggest; and his suggestions always have the weight, he being the most influential and powerful Ilonggo leader in the national government today.