ILOILO – Gov. Arthur Defensor Jr. has yet to publicly endorse either Santa Barbara or Oton as Iloilo’s official provincial capital, leaving the race wide open despite a claim that he supports a congressional bill seeking the designation of Santa Barbara.
The governor’s noncommittal stance has cast uncertainty over which municipality will ultimately receive the provincial government’s backing, particularly after Iloilo 2nd District’s Cong. Kathryn Joyce Gorriceta publicly declared that Defensor supported her legislative proposal to designate Santa Barbara as the capital town.
“You know, the capital of the province…is not yet established. Maybe it’s up for grabs,” Defensor said when asked which of the two municipalities he would favor.
Defensor acknowledged that the mayors of Santa Barbara and Oton had recently brought their respective aspirations to his attention.
However, he expressed concern that the competing bids could trigger unnecessary conflict between the two municipalities.
Rather than identifying a preferred location, the governor emphasized that the selection should be anchored on economic viability, infrastructure and the capacity to attract investments.
“When you declare something capital, if you want to take advantage of it, may economic activity gid na ya, it goes back there kay bisan ano mo ka-declare sang capital if the fundamentals are not there, like no port, wala bala, wala sang rason nga mag-gravitate dira ang economic activity. That’s what I mean,” Defensor explained.
His remarks suggest that neither historical distinction nor the concentration of government offices alone would necessarily determine which municipality deserves the designation.
Defensor nevertheless welcomed the initiatives of both towns.
“Right now because itt’s here, sige ah we will look at it,” he said.
The governor also admitted uncertainty over whether the authority to declare a provincial capital rests with his office, the Sangguniang Panlalawigan (SP), or Congress.
Santa Barbara claims governor’s support
Santa Barbara has already taken its campaign to Congress through a bill filed by Gorriceta.
“Hopefully by end of the year or next year, ma-aprubahan na ini didto sa Congress,” Gorriceta said.
Her statement contrasts with the governor’s latest refusal to identify a preferred municipality, although Defensor did not explicitly withdraw or deny any previous support for Santa Barbara’s proposal.
Santa Barbara formally launched its bid on February 3, 2026, when its Sangguniang Bayan passed a resolution urging Defensor and the SP to support its designation as the provincial capital.
Municipal officials argued that Santa Barbara has effectively become an administrative center because of the concentration of government offices and facilities within its territory.
Among these are the regional offices of the Department of Health, Department of the Interior and Local Government, and Philippine Coconut Authority.
The provincial government is also constructing the Iloilo Smart Green Government Center in Santa Barbara, envisioned as a one-stop facility for key government offices.
The municipality cited, too, its proximity to Iloilo International Airport, strategic location, infrastructure development and economic capacity as compelling advantages.
Oton challenges Santa Barbara’s bid
Oton, meanwhile, is refusing to concede the coveted designation.
The first-class municipality in Iloilo’s 1st District is pursuing its own claim through Proposed Resolution No. 2026-190, sponsored by Vice Mayor Jose Neil Olivares.
The proposed measure urges the provincial government to consider Oton as the capital should it decide to officially designate a municipality for that purpose.
Oton’s strongest argument rests on its historical significance.
Founded in 1572, it is recognized as the second-oldest Spanish settlement in the Philippines after Cebu and once served as the capital of the Alcaldia de Panay, which encompassed Panay, Negros, Guimaras and nearby islands.
The municipality also serves as a gateway to southern Iloilo and has benefited from expanding residential and commercial developments driven by its proximity to Iloilo City.
On October 29, Councilor Dell Hosillos, chairman of the Sangguniang Bayan Committee on Culture, History, Arts and Tourism, invited Provincial Information and Community Affairs Office head Jose Nereo Lujan to attend a November 10 committee hearing on the proposal.
The hearing is expected to further advance Oton’s campaign for the designation./PN
