If you're not stuck with PHP and MySql, then another option would be to use Html 5.
Then your site can run in the browser on iOS and (most) versions of android. By using offline cache and a local database, you could avoid using PhoneGap, etc. You could also use jQuery if you like.
You would, however, have to use javascript to access the local database instead of php. Also - since the sqlite support is being dropped in Html 5, you would have to use local storage or indexed db. I find the former much simpler and fine for my purpose.
BTW - for developing, Google Chrome has nice tools for debugging javascript.
