ILOILO City – To align public market modernization with inclusive economic growth, the city government has rolled out a multi-sectoral capacity-building initiative aimed at transforming traditional vendors into competitive micro-entrepreneurs.
The Accelerated Capacity Building for Market Vendors, launched on August 5 under the Uswag Negosyo Academy (UNA) and the Sustainable Income Generation through Entrepreneurship (SIGE) Program, aims to equip over 300 vendors per batch with vital skills in financial literacy, food safety, visual merchandising, digital literacy, and business registration.
“Give a man a fish, and you feed him for a day; teach a man to fish, and you feed him for a lifetime,” said Mayor Raisa Treñas during the launch.
“Ang one-time nga ayuda temporaryo lang. Ang mabaton mo subong, pagka-bwas wala na. Amo ini ang rason kon nga-a ang Iloilo City Government nagahimo sang programa agud mas mapatin-ad ang inyo nga pag-negosyo. Kay kon manami kag sige-sige ang inyo pag-negosyo, sige man ang inyo pag-asenso.”
The program runs until August 8 and supports the city’s broader RISING ECONOMY agenda. It builds upon the foundation of the previous Negosyo Center Academy, which trained over 1,500 vendors before its relaunch under the new administration.
Velma Jane Lao, head of the Local Economic Development and Investment Promotion (LEDIP) Office, emphasized the program’s holistic approach, saying it also “connects vendors to banks and financial institutions to improve their access to financial services and credit.”
Among the participating partners are the Bankers Association of Iloilo (BAI), GCash, SM, and BDO Foundation.
Mayor Treñas linked the upskilling program to the city’s ongoing market upgrades, initiated by former mayor Jerry Treñas. She highlighted the importance of aligning infrastructure improvements with human capital development.
She also expressed gratitude to the implementing offices — LEDIP under Lao, the Local Economic Enterprise Office (LEEO) led by Maricel Mabaquiao, the Iloilo City Negosyo Center, the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), and private sector partners.
“Nagapamatuod ini nga kon naga-binuligay kita, malab-ot gid naton ang kadalag-an para sa pinalangga naton nga Siyudad sang Iloilo,” Treñas said./PN
