The Iloilo-Batiano River Development Project won the coveted Galing Pook Award. The city government’s entry to the 2018 Galing Pook Awards was the river rehabilitation project started in 2011. Mayor Jose Espinosa III personally received the Galing Pook marker (award) and the prize – a check for P100,000.

Tayona, G. (2018, November 5). Iloilo RIver dev't project wins Galing Pook award. Panay News, pp. 5, 15.