ILOILO — Entering the final stretch of his nine-year tenure, Gov. Arthur Defensor Jr. laid down a blunt message for 2026: intensified work, sharper focus, and faster execution as the provincial government pushes to lock in long-term gains for Iloilo before the 2028 end of his third and last term.
Speaking during the first flag-raising ceremony of the year at the Iloilo Provincial Capitol grounds on January 5, Defensor said his New Year’s resolution reflects the urgency of unfinished work and unfulfilled goals for the province.
“I will try my best. Again, (my) New Year resolutions go back to the salt mines, go back to work and then we will try, try harder,” Defensor said.
Defensor told reporters that nine years in office are not enough to fully accomplish his development vision, a reality that has prompted the provincial government to recalibrate its priorities this year toward accelerated implementation and clearer policy direction.
He said this urgency is reflected in his opening message for the year, particularly the decision to use Kasadyahan sa Kabanwahanan as a platform for rolling out the province’s tourism push through the Turista sa Barangay program.
Defensor said a revised executive order covering the program is set for release within the week.
The governor also pointed to Executive Order No. 111, Series of 2025, which institutionalized the Provincial Community Defense Action for MoRProGRes Iloilo — also known as 4K for MoRProGRes — as a key policy framework that will guide the province’s direction in 2026.
The 4K for MoRProGRes system promotes intensified, integrated, and collaborative community action to protect public welfare and local government units against internal and external threats, while adopting an “Urgent Development Mode” to fast-track peace, order, resilience, and budget prioritization for critical programs.
It also provides for the creation of a Provincial Community Defense Cluster, tasked to formulate policies and programs related to community defense.
“Amo na sia ang guidance, dira mo makita kon ano ang importante sa aton, ano ang ginadalian ta, ano ang gusto naton unahon you will see,” Defensor said.
Beyond programs and awards, Defensor said the province’s ultimate goal remains building a financially capable middle class that can sustain local industries and commerce.
“Ang definition sang middle class, the family who can afford to buy basic necessities and afford to spend for leisure. We just want to do our part. We want to develop our people, strong middle class and we are moving towards that,” he said.
Asked to name his banner accomplishment for 2025, Defensor declined, saying he does not single out favorites.
The provincial government, however, closed 2025 with several recognitions, including being declared national champion in the 2025 Rafael M. Salas Kaunlarang Pantao Award for localizing the Population and Development agenda, and being named a Sustainable Development Goals Achievement Champion and Exemplar by the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) Western Visayas.
Despite these accolades, Defensor stressed that there remains “room for improvement” as the province enters what he described as a decisive final year.
“We can only improve. Daw pareho man lang sa Kasadyahan. The Kasadyahan of last year cannot be better than the Kasadyahan this year,” he said./PN
