Iloilo City public markets draw more visitors, benchmarking groups

Public markets in Iloilo City are drawing more visitors and gaining attention, emerging as hubs for commerce, community activities and local tourism.

The Local Economic Enterprise Office (LEEO) reported that from October 2025 to August 14, 2026, it welcomed 23 local government units and government agencies from different parts of the country for benchmarking visits.

“Kadamo sang mga turista kag mga tawo nga halin sa iban nga lugar nga naga-benchmarking. Actually, may iban gani nga wala pa na-record nga nagakadto na direkta dira para makita lang ang kanami sang aton mga merkado,” said LEEO head Maricel Mabaquiao.

According to Mabaquiao, benchmarking groups are particularly interested in how the city communicates and works with market vendors, especially during the transition to the new market facilities.

They also ask about the city ordinances governing the markets and the implementation of the public-private partnership for the Central and Terminal Public Markets.

The Iloilo City Government has also noted increased foot traffic in its public markets, with the facilities also serving as venues for community activities and city-led events. Among these activities is the regular Zumba sa Merkado, which brings residents to the markets not only to shop but also to take part in health and wellness activities.

Mabaquiao said the city also fulfilled its commitment that all original legitimate vendors would be accommodated and would not be displaced.

“Aton mga transient nga ara gid, mga legal nga transient naton, gin-tagaan man naton sila stall,” she said, adding that she was instructed to develop a win-win solution for in-market vendors and bolanteros.

Earlier, Mayor Raisa S. Treñas expressed her intent to further develop Iloilo City’s public markets as tourism and economic hubs.
One of the initiatives is to provide rent-free display spaces for products from partner provinces and municipalities across Western Visayas.

The city aims to position the Central and Jaro markets as one-stop destinations where residents and visitors can discover the region’s food, crafts and other local products.

The Iloilo Central Public Market and Iloilo Terminal Public Market officially opened on October 30, 2025, followed by the city-funded district markets in Arevalo, Jaro and La Paz in December 2025. (Iloilo City PIO)