ILOILO CITY, (PNA) – Iloilo Gov. Arthur Defensor, Sr . is strongly saying “No” to the proposal of a city councilor to move the Arroyo fountain and the island besides it to give way to public transport.
Defensor said that the the Arroyo fountain is a historical structure that was built in honor of the late great grandfather of former first gentleman Mike Arroyo. The late Sen. Jose Maria Arroyo is the author of the Act No. 3222 creating the Iloilo Metropolitan Water Works on September 16, 1925 with Tigum River in Iloilo province as the main source.
Besides the Arroyo fountain also is an island “Siete Pecados” which is a favourite destination in Guimaras that used to be a sub-province of Iloilo.
Iloilo city councillor Plaridel Nava reportedly proposed to move the structures so that public transports could have a wider lane and to decongest traffic in the area.
But Defensor is vehemently saying no since the Arroyo fountain aside from its historic significance is the zero-kilometer point from Iloilo city to the province and for all other destinations in Panay island just like the Rizal Monument in Luneta Park for Manila.