Iloilo River Esplanade

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Iloilo River Esplanade
Iloilo-River-Esplanade-Fire-Trees.jpg
A fire tree (Royal Poinciana) at the Iloilo River Esplanade
Iloilo River Esplanade is located in Philippines
Iloilo River Esplanade
Iloilo River Esplanade
TypeEsplanade
LocationIloilo City, Philippines
Coordinates10°42′07″N 122°32′42″E / 10.702015°N 122.544905°E / 10.702015; 122.544905Coordinates: 10°42′07″N 122°32′42″E / 10.702015°N 122.544905°E / 10.702015; 122.544905
OpenedAugust 18, 2012
DesignerPaolo Alcazaren
Owned byIloilo City Government (LGU)
StatusEsplanade 1 to 9: Completed Esplanade 10: On-going

Iloilo River Esplanade is an esplanade along Iloilo River in Iloilo City, Philippines that was opened on August 18, 2012.[1] It stretches 9.035 kilometers in total length from Carpenter's Bridge in Mandurriao to Muelle Loney (Drilon) Bridge in City Proper. The project cost ₱1.12 billion and was designed by Paolo Alcazaren. There are proposals to extend the Esplanade from the Carpenter's Bridge to Barangay Sooc, Arevalo, Iloilo City.[2]

History[]

Formerly known as Treñas Boulevard, the Iloilo River Esplanade is a project in the public realm. It is the initial part of a larger project to provide both sides of the Iloilo River with esplanades catering primarily to pedestrians. The first phase of the project which cost ₱58.7 million, is 1.2 kilometers long between Iloilo Diversion (Sen. Benigno Aquino Jr. Avenue) and Carpenter's Bridges in Mandurriao, Iloilo City.[3]

The site was an existing dike road devoid of shade and originally built just as a flood control measure. Sen. Franklin Drilon along with former Iloilo City Mayor Jed Patrick Mabilog and current Iloilo City Mayor Jerry P. Treñas (at the time, an Iloilo City Congressman) launched the esplanade project as a key component of their Iloilo River Improvement initiative.

The redesign showcased its effect on public amenity, because it is creating an identity for Iloilo (it is one of the most posted on Social Media) as well as the improved real estate values. Before the esplanade’s construction the price of land was ₱2-3,000 per square meter, today it is ₱18,000 or more per square meter.[4]

The longest linear park in the country lines the Iloilo River as it traverses through five of the seven Iloilo City districts: Molo, Mandurriao, La Paz, Lapuz, and the City Proper. Now almost close to 10 kilometers in length, it had inauspicious beginnings over a decade ago, initially meant as an alternate traffic route and flood control system between Carpenter's Bridge and the major city highway, Diversion Road in Mandurriao district.

The Iloilo River Esplanade Project has now a total of ten phases along the Iloilo River and each of them has its own unique charm and character.

Iloilo River Esplanade with the Iloilo River in the background at dawn.

See also[]

References[]

  1. ^ http://www.iloilocity.gov.ph/iloiloct2011wip/autogeneratedpagenews.php?id=682
  2. ^ http://www.sunstar.com.ph/iloilo/local-news/2012/08/13/city-eyes-2-more-river-esplanade-projects-237246
  3. ^ "With esplanade comes a new Iloilo River experience | Inquirer News". 15 September 2012.
  4. ^ "Iloilo Esplanade | PGAA Creative Design". pgaacreativedesign.com. Retrieved 2021-09-04.
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