This local government and the Tourism Infrastructure and Enterprise Zone Authority (TIEZA) formally launched the “Meet You in Iloilo” project with the signing of a memorandum of agreement on Friday.

The five-year project aims to position Iloilo City as a premier MICE (Meetings, Incentives, Conferences, Exhibitions) destination in the Southeast Asian region.

The MOA was signed Mayor Raisa Treñas and TIEZA chief operating officer Mark Lapid, and witnessed by TIEZA chief of staff King Bauyon, MICE Alliance Iloilo chair Natalie Lim, former Iloilo Festivals Foundation Inc. chair Allan Ryan Tan, Executive Assistant Leny Ledesma and MICE Center Iloilo Director Maria Victoria Lara.

Under the agreement, TIEZA committed PHP17.6 million for initiatives eyed to expand and boost the competitiveness of Iloilo, including hosting local and international conventions, capacity-building for stakeholders, marketing campaigns, upgrading of facilities and networking events to attract investors and organizers.

“This project is a very significant milestone for our MICE here in Iloilo City. And we want to thank TIEZA for this partnership. Last year, more than 150 MICE conventions and events happened in the Iloilo Convention Center, and we want to sustain and improve those events. That’s why this partnership is very important for us,” Treñas said in a statement.

Meanwhile, Lapid expressed the readiness of TIEZA to help the city, even beyond MICE.

“Anything that we can help support the local stakeholders, including the city government, the LGU, TIEZA is very much willing to help,” Lapid said.

He said they have various programs coming in, including the development of plazas and the rehabilitation of the Museo de Iloilo. (PNA)