Iloilo City is a step closer to securing Hall of Fame status in the Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry’s (PCCI) Most Business-Friendly Local Government Unit Awards after advancing to the final panel presentation for the 2026 competition.

Mayor Raisa Treñas presented the city’s entry before the PCCI panel in Fort Bonifacio, Taguig City on Wednesday, September 23.

Iloilo City is among the Top 5 finalists in the City Level 1B category, which covers highly urbanized cities outside Metro Manila. The other finalists are Baguio, Bacolod, Cagayan de Oro, and Lapu-Lapu cities.

A victory this year would earn Iloilo City Hall of Fame status after previously receiving the Most Business-Friendly LGU recognition in 2019, 2023, and 2025.

During the final presentation and interview, Treñas highlighted the city government’s governance reforms, digitalization initiatives, public-private partnerships, infrastructure development, sustainable urban planning, and programs aimed at making it easier to do business in the city.

“For us, being business-friendly means building a government that listens, responds and works in partnership with our people. We want every entrepreneur, investor and Ilonggo to know that when you choose Iloilo, you have a government ready to grow with you,” Treñas said.

Among the initiatives presented was the city’s RISE to Action Strategy Roadmap, which focuses on inclusive, innovative and good governance.

Through the RISE to Action Dashboard, the city monitors the implementation of 45 flagship programs, allowing officials to track accomplishments, identify implementation gaps, and determine programs requiring faster action.

The city also highlighted its efforts to digitalize government transactions through the Integrated Business Permits and Licensing System, which allows business applications, renewals, assessments, payments and other processes to be completed online.

Barangays have also been linked digitally through the Integrated Barangay Business Clearance, aimed at reducing repetitive submission of documents and manual processing.

The city government said these initiatives form part of its broader effort to ensure that economic development benefits not only investors and businesses but ordinary Ilonggos as well.

The PCCI Most Business-Friendly LGU Awards recognize local governments for programs that promote trade and investment, improve transparency and accountability, provide efficient business services, and strengthen collaboration with the private sector to support local economic development.

As one of this year’s finalists, Iloilo City also received a Certificate of Special Recognition from PCCI.

The city is seeking to build on its 2025 victory, when it was named Most Business-Friendly LGU in the City Level 1B category.

Should Iloilo City clinch the award again in 2026, it would cap another milestone in its continuing push for a more competitive, digitally enabled and business-friendly local economy.