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ILOILO: Iloilo City will celebrate the Chinese New Year as an acknowledgment of the significant contribution of the Filipino-Chinese community on the city's development. Mayor Jerry P. Treñas, in a briefing on Monday, said they started the celebration, now on its 20th year, with only three persons as organizers and later expanded with the help of various Chinese associations and schools. 'What is the contribution? The employment is huge. The development of our city is faster,' the mayor said. One of the projects that involve the Chinese-Filipino community is the construction of the PHP247 million Housing Balance Compliance Project of the SM Development Corporation (SMDC), with 120 residential units at the Uswag Subdivision in Barangay San Isidro, Jaro. Treñas said the socialized housing project for low-income employees of the city hall is ready for turnover in the second quarter of this year. Another project is the rehabilitation of the city's public markets. 'Our local Chinese community, we see them in businesses, giving employment (opportunities),' he added Chinese New Year will fall on February 10 this year and celebrations in the city will start on Feb. 6 with the opening program and cultural exhibit featuring major festivals in China at the SM City Iloilo. There will be a sneak preview of the Quanzhou puppet show at the SM City on Feb. 8; a grand parade and cultural show at the Filipino-Chinese Friendship Arc in Iznart Street, also known as the 'Chinatown of Iloilo', on Feb. 9; and a Chinese New Year Thanksgiving Mass at the Sta. Maria Chinese-Filipino Parish in the morning of Feb. 11 and closing ceremony at the Park Square, Festive Walk Parade in the afternoon. Source: Philippines News Agency