The Iloilo- Batiano River was sustained during his term. This was the reaction of Mayor Jose Espinosa III to criticisms that he only took over the Iloilo-Batiano River Rehabilitation Project from Mayor Jed Patrick Mabilog who initiated the project in 2011. “It started sa time ni Mayor Jed Mabilog pero ang sustainability bala ti subong sang aton gid na ya nga tini-on,” said Espinosa. The Iloilo-Batiano River Development Project was one of the top ten recipients of the Galing Pook Awards 2018 at Novotel Manila, Araneta Center in Quezon City on Oct 11.

Santiagudo, E. R. (2018, October 17). Mayor Espinosa slams critics on river project. The Daily Guardian, pp. 2, 14.