ILOILO City – Shifting the city’s long-term vision into measurable targets, Mayor Raisa Treñas on Monday framed Iloilo City’s bid to become one of the country’s top three highly urbanized cities by 2029 as a performance-driven push anchored on economic expansion, service efficiency, and competitiveness, telling city workers that the coming years will be judged less by rhetoric and more by results.
Treñas outlined the goal during her first official message for 2026 at the flag-raising ceremony at Iloilo City Hall, where she described the year as a critical reset point for governance standards, productivity, and institutional discipline as the city positions itself against other leading urban centers nationwide.
“This morning, I stand before everyone with a very energetic passion to serve,” Treñas said, noting that she had worked late into the early hours preparing directives for city offices. She said her drive is rooted in public service and her commitment to Iloilo City.
The mayor described 2026 as a year of fresh beginnings, with programs and initiatives lined up for rollout, signaling a more focused approach to delivering services and sustaining the city’s economic momentum.
She stressed that competitiveness begins inside City Hall, reminding employees that governance must translate into real benefits for residents and businesses.
“We are in government to serve — truthfully and sincerely — because we were placed here to serve our beloved Ilonggos,” she said.
Treñas said the city’s vision is no longer abstract but increasingly within reach, provided performance and unity remain consistent across all departments.
“Our dream is getting closer. From 2025, now in 2026, we are moving nearer to our vision that by 2029, Iloilo City will be among the top three most highly urbanized cities in the whole Philippines,” she said.
Achieving that standing, the mayor added, will require collective effort, disciplined execution, and integrity in public service, as Iloilo City works to strengthen its economic base, improve service delivery, and enhance its competitiveness relative to other major urban centers./PN
