ILOILO City – Mayor Raisa Treñas is seeking a P300-million increase in Iloilo City’s annual budget to P4.8 billion in 2027, with healthcare assistance, social protection and improved daycare facilities among the administration’s priorities as it moves to ensure that economic growth delivers tangible benefits to ordinary residents.
The proposed spending plan represents a 6.7 percent increase from the city’s P4.5-billion budget for 2026, reflecting the local government’s commitment to sustain essential public services while addressing the needs of its growing population.
Treñas said the proposed 2027 budget has been finalized and is ready for endorsement, with healthcare programs remaining a central component of the city’s expenditure priorities.
“Our healthcare programs will not be removed from our priorities because we have seen how much of an impact our healthcare assistance has made,” Treñas said.
The mayor emphasized that the city government intends to sustain medical and financial assistance for residents, particularly vulnerable families who depend on government support to meet their healthcare needs.
Beyond healthcare, the administration is also prioritizing social welfare programs, including improvements to daycare facilities to provide better services for children and families across the city’s communities.
Treñas said the proposed budget seeks to strike a balance between economic expansion and social protection, ensuring that development does not come at the expense of disadvantaged sectors.
“We have to balance our economic activities and healthcare programs to make sure that no one is left behind as we recover from the crisis,” she said.
The mayor stressed that economic progress must translate into improved public services and greater opportunities for residents, particularly those who remain vulnerable despite the city’s continuing development.
The proposed P4.8-billion budget will undergo the required local budgetary process before it can be implemented in 2027./PN
