Iloilo City: President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. led the Alyansa Para sa Bagong Pilipinas senatorial candidates in wooing Ilonggo votes as they held their national rally in this city's Mandurriao District on Thursday. The President took pride in presenting before the more than 35,000 crowd at the Iloilo City Center that the Alyansa is the only group with a complete list of candidates for all elective posts-from national, down to the lowest Sangguniang Bayan.

According to Philippines News Agency, all 12 senatorial bets were present at the rally. This included Reps. Erwin Tulfo and Camille Villar; re-electionist Senators Francis Tolentino, Lito Lapid, Ramon 'Bong' Revilla, Pia Cayetano, and Imee Marcos; Makati Mayor Abby Binay; and former senators Manny Pacquiao, Tito Sotto, and Panfilo Lacson; as well as former interior secretary Benhur Abalos. At a press briefing before the rally, the senatoriables assured Ilonggos of their commitment to infrastructure and tourism development in the region.

Abalos urged Ilonggos to adopt their group in the absence of an Ilonggo senator in the Senate. He highlighted potential projects, including the development of Iloilo's international airport and the Panay-Guimaras-Negros Occidental Bridge. "It's all about creating an environment for investments and at the same time creating jobs," Abalos stated.

Tolentino echoed his support for the bridge project and expressed backing for the proposed 210-km Iloilo-Capiz-Aklan Expressway and a bus rapid transit system in Iloilo City. He envisions Iloilo as a hub for medical tourism, emphasizing the need to strengthen this sector and redevelop the airport to catalyze growth in tourism. Tolentino also praised the Sunset Boulevard as a symbol of urban renewal, suggesting the need to widen adjacent areas to enable the new road project to achieve its full potential.

Villar, with roots in Iloilo, mentioned two key focuses for the region: infrastructure, which she believes is beneficial for the economy and job creation, and the tourism industry.