The widened Batiano Bridge opens in Oton, Iloilo. (Tara Yap) Iloilo Rep. Janette Loreto Garin and Oton Vice Mayor Vincent Flores led the April 20 inauguration of the widened Batiano Bridge which is now a four-lane bridge. The bridge is an essential gateway for motorists and travelers as it is the first bridge from Iloilo City, the regional capital of Western Visayas. The bridge links Iloilo City to the southern towns of Iloilo, including Oton, Tigbauan, Guimbal, Miag-ao, and San Joaquin. Over the decades, the bridge has undergone reconstruction and repair, particularly after it was damaged during a July 1994 typhoon. The Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) undertook the project beginning October 2019. Aside from being a four-lane bridge, there is also a walkway on both sides of the bridge.