Iloilo’s historic Plaza Libertad will have a new look before 2021 ends, according to the city government.

During Monday’s flag-raising ceremony, Iloilo City Mayor Jerry Treñas said the rehabilitation of the plaza will first utilize the PHP19-million fund from the national government’s “Green, Green, Green” program.

Since the rehabilitation needs PHP30 million, the city treasurer’s office will have to look for the remaining PHP11 million, he said.

Treñas said some of the plants inside the plaza are being transferred to give way to the rehabilitation.

“This is the most historic because this is where the Spaniards surrendered to the Filipinos. The last forces of the Spaniards surrendered to the Filipinos (on) December 25, 1898,” he said.

Meanwhile, Treñas also extended cash incentives to graduates of colleges and universities based in Iloilo City with Latin honors.

A total of 38 honor graduates from the Iloilo School of Science and Technology University (ISAT U) and 29 from Central Philippine University (CPU) were given incentives. They were represented by four magna cum laude and three summa cum laude during the ceremony.

“The city believes that our future is in our children. We should always give them some encouragement,” he said.

The recipients belong to the second batch of honor graduates who already received their incentive.

During the first batch, the city government also awarded cash incentives to 12 students from Iloilo Doctors College (IDC) and two from St. Paul University Iloilo (SPUI).

The city government grants cash incentives — PHP3,000 to summa cum laude, PHP2,000 for magna cum laude, and PHP1,000 for cum laude. (PNA)