Iloilo Governor Arthur Defensor Jr. is urging the national government to move forward with the proposed Iloilo–Capiz–Aklan Expressway (Icaex), saying the long-planned infrastructure project could significantly improve transportation and drive economic development across Western Visayas.
Speaking during a press conference on Wednesday, Defensor expressed hope that President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. would include the Panay Expressway among the administration's priority projects during the remainder of his term.
“It would be good if the Icaex is remembered. We really need that for Iloilo,” Defensor said.
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Expressway Seen to Improve Connectivity Across Panay
The proposed Icaex is a 210-kilometer, four-lane, controlled-access toll expressway that will connect the provinces of Iloilo, Capiz, and Aklan. Once completed, it is expected to link Leganes, Iloilo, to Malay, Aklan, reducing travel time between Iloilo City and Boracay from the current six to seven hours to approximately 2.5 hours while easing congestion along existing road networks.
The project is being pursued as a public-private partnership (PPP) and is currently in the pre-construction and project preparation stage. It has also been identified by the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) as one of its priority PPP initiatives in Western Visayas under its 2026 budget, with current work focused on transaction advisory services and preparations for bid submissions.
Although he continues to advocate for the expressway, Defensor emphasized that Iloilo has continued to receive support from the national government.
“We have not been left behind. We are being prioritized by the administration,” he said.
Infrastructure and Agriculture Remain Development Priorities
The governor pointed to several major government investments already underway in the province, including the Jalaur River Multipurpose Project Phase II (JRMP II) and the recently inaugurated modernized rice processing center of the National Food Authority (NFA) in Barangay P.D. Monfort North, Dumangas.
Highlighting the importance of balanced development, Defensor said, “It is good for us if we continue to focus on agriculture. Agriculture is important to us, and so is infrastructure.”
He also added, “The budget for the JRMP II is a significant investment. The canals and irrigation system are major developments [...] the rice processing center in Dumangas is also a very important initiative.”
The JRMP II, recognized as the country's largest irrigation and water reservoir project outside Luzon, has reached 86.16 percent overall physical accomplishment as of June 2026 and is targeted for full operations by 2028.
Meanwhile, the P350-million rice processing center in Dumangas is the first completed facility among the NFA's 36 modernized post-harvest sites nationwide. The facility is designed to modernize post-harvest operations, reduce production losses, improve grain quality, and increase farmers' incomes. It features a rice mill capable of processing 8 to 10 metric tons of palay per hour and four mechanical grain dryers, each with a capacity of 30 metric tons per batch, allowing the production of approximately 819 to 1,024 bags of 50-kilogram milled rice per day.
If realized, the Panay Expressway could become a transformative infrastructure project for Western Visayas by improving regional connectivity, shortening travel times, and making the movement of people and goods more efficient. For residents, businesses, farmers, and the tourism sector, better transport links could create more economic opportunities, support local industries, and strengthen the region's competitiveness while contributing to the country's broader infrastructure and development goals.
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