ILOILO City – At the core of Iloilo City’s continuous development under the leadership of Mayor Jerry P. Treñas, is a commitment to foster community participation among Ilonggos, making it a way of life.
This proactive approach not only promotes inclusivity but also ensures that the city’s growth is sustainable and deeply rooted in the collective aspirations of its people.
Throughout Treñas’ administration, several impactful initiatives have been introduced to engage the community.
“Here in Iloilo City, our success in various initiatives to enable every sector is because of the participation and big contribution by no less than our community. Our very own people, the empowered Ilonggos, are our driving force behind the positive change that we want to aim. As city mayor, I am deeply thankful for it,” he shared.
RISE-A-FARM
Iloilo City’s Rise-A-Farm program has demonstrated that sustainable urban gardening for food sufficiency is achievable in a highly urbanized setting.
Built on the success of the JPT Ediscape, the program integrates vegetable gardening with chicken production, fishponds, and tree cultivation.
The number of barangays maintaining communal gardens has grown from 12 to 71 since its inception in 2020.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, community gardens significantly contributed to the Uswag Community Kitchens, feeding affected residents and frontliners.
The Rise-A-Farm program also includes the Uswag Merkado Lokal and Rolling Store Project, which brings local farm produce closer to consumers. It also provides technical assistance and training for farmers at the Uswag Nursery.
Recognized as a best practice in sustainability and food security, the program was a finalist for the Walang Gutom Awards by Galing Pook and DSWD in 2024.
ILOILO CITY SPORTS ACADEMY (ICSA)
ICSA is another endeavor that fosters community involvement, especially among Ilonggo youth, and has been recognized as a finalist for the Galing Pook Award in 2023 and 2024.
This grassroots program offers free year-round training for kids aged 5 to 17 in 20 sports disciplines, promoting physical fitness, discipline, teamwork, and excellence.
Since it started in 2019, ICSA has grown from 160 to 3,464 athletes, producing several local and national champions.
With participation from athletes in 79 public and 50 private schools, the program aims to steer teens away from vices and negative peer influences
USWAG NEGOSYO ACADEMY (UNA) AND TRAIBAHO ILONGGO
The city government’s UNA and the Traibaho Ilonggo target the participation and empowerment of marginalized sectors such as market vendors, solo parents, unemployed individuals, and out-of-school youth.
A total of 1,230 city residents have availed themselves of the skills trainings under Traibaho Ilonggo; while 327 micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) including market vendors graduated from the UNA training course since April 2023, with additional business capital totaling to P1.405 million through BDO Foundation.
The Public Employment Service Office (PESO)-Iloilo City has likewise been actively connecting thousands of jobseekers and various industries by providing venues through job fairs and local and special recruitment activities.
In 2024 alone, 12,795 out of 13,068 job applicants have secured employment.
PESO-Iloilo City also opens its doors to abled elderly interns through the Senior Internship Program (SIP), in partnership with the office of Councilor Sedfrey Cabaluna. The program aims to equip senior interns with essential life skills and values for the modern workplace.
TECHNICAL INSTITUTE OF ILOILO CITY (TIIC)
Through TIIC, qualified city residents, including youth and women, have access to life-changing opportunities via free TESDA-accredited livelihood and skills training programs.
Since Treñas’ return in 2019, over 2,000 Ilonggos have benefited from TIIC by gaining skills for improved job opportunities and economic status.
TIIC has produced graduates who are now employed in automotive industries, top construction companies, government positions, and overseas like Brunei, Australia, Saudi Arabia, Japan, and various ships/vessels.
Graduates have also started their own businesses or found employment in local hotels, while offering community services in beauty care, wellness massage, scholarship training, emergency medical response, bread and pastry, food processing, and Jail Pantry Training for persons deprived of liberty.
ILOILO CITY FESTIVALS
Community participation has been likewise evident in various festivals in Iloilo City, proudly putting the metropolis on the map.
The Iloilo Dinagyang and Iloilo-Guimaras Paraw Regatta festivals — the city’s two biggest cultural events — have grown grander each year, showcasing stronger collaborations with stakeholders.
The Chinese New Year Festival, the biggest celebration outside Manila, started during Mayor Treñas’ first term in 2002 and symbolizes friendship and unity between the Ilonggos and the Chinese-Filipino community.
Meanwhile, the Iloilo Bike and Arts festivals were launched to promote active transport and healthy lifestyles and to give support to creative industries and artists in Iloilo, respectively.
The Treñas administration has shown that fostering community participation is the key to building a resilient and progressive city.
By involving citizens, from educational programs, sports training, cultural celebrations to entrepreneurial support, Iloilo City thrives as a model of sustainable urban development.
Under Mayor Treñas’ leadership, “Uswag Iloilo” is more than a slogan — it’s a vision turned into reality./PN
