First Six Months of Action: Mayor Raisa Treñas Sets a Strong Direction for Iloilo City

In just six months at the helm of Iloilo City, Mayor Raisa Treñas has made her mark with decisive leadership anchored on action, impact, and clear direction—rolling out 42 programs that strengthen social services, expand health access, boost economic growth, and build long-term resilience.

From the outset, the Treñas administration has emphasized people-centered governance. One of its flagship initiatives is RiseABLE, a city government–funded Special Education (SPED) and Early Intervention Center that expands inclusive education for children with special needs. Housing security is also taking shape through Pasilong (Pabalay para sa Pamilyang Ilonggo), now undergoing land development in West Habog-habog and San Juan, Molo, signaling concrete progress toward dignified shelter for Ilonggo families.

Access to education is set to widen further with the planned Iloilo City Community College, with groundbreaking targeted next year in Veterans Village, Fort San Pedro—an investment aimed at making higher education more accessible to the city’s youth.

Health services have likewise seen significant gains. The city has expanded Uswag Pharmacies across nine district health centers and 79 barangay health centers, ensuring affordable medicines are within reach. These services will extend deeper into communities through the Purok Kalusugan Program, bringing healthcare closer to zones and sitios. To support patients with chronic needs, the city has also added dialysis chairs in its two city-run dialysis centers.

On the economic front, Mayor Treñas has pushed initiatives that directly empower livelihoods. The Tindahan, Livelihood, and Cart (TLC) ni Inday Program supports small entrepreneurs, while the ongoing redevelopment of public markets improves conditions for both vendors and consumers. Programs such as the Uswag Negosyo Academy (UNA) and Sige Asenso provide vendors with training and opportunities to grow sustainable businesses. At the same time, Iloilo City is entering the final phase of public plaza development, transforming open spaces into vibrant, people-friendly hubs that encourage community life and local enterprise.

These efforts have not gone unnoticed. Within her first six months, Iloilo City earned major recognitions, including the Katipunan Award (Mobility Awards), being named Most Business-Friendly City by the Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PCCI), and becoming a Finalist for Most Child-Friendly City in the Philippines, among others.

Mayor Treñas credits these early gains to collective effort and continued public support. “Madamu na kita sang naumpisahan nga mga programa kag mga serbisyo para sa aton mga pumuluyo. Padayon kag pabaskugon pa gid naton ini sa masunod nga tuig. Ang akon lang ginapangabay sa tanan, bululigan naton. Kinanglan ko ang inyo suporta,” the city mayor said.

Looking ahead, the Treñas administration is focused on strengthening Iloilo City’s resilience. Plans include exploring flood-mitigating infrastructure such as the sponge city concept, alongside the continued implementation of Project TRANSFORM, to better prepare the city for climate-related challenges.

“We have set the tone, and now we will build on this foundation. Our next steps will strengthen social protection, grow our local economy, and create a safer, greener, and more livable city,” she said.

At the heart of these initiatives is an inclusive vision that seeks to ensure progress is felt by all. “Our commitment is simple but profound: to ensure that every Ilonggo feels the progress we build together,” Treñas added.

Six months into her term, Mayor Raisa Treñas has laid a firm groundwork for Iloilo City’s future—one defined by shared responsibility, steady momentum, and a clear call to move forward together. As Ilonggos would say, “Padayon sa pag-uswag, Iloilo!”