Institutionalized support for city’s nano enterprises mulled

ILOILO City – Small neighborhood businesses here, including sari-sari stores, carinderias and food vendors, are seen to benefit from incentives and institutionalized government support as the city government moves to ensure that economic growth extends beyond major investors and large corporations.

Mayor Raisa Treñas is pushing for enterprise development measures for micro and nano entrepreneurs to expand their operations, improve their livelihoods and generate employment.

The initiatives form part of her administration’s efforts to translate Iloilo City’s induction into the Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PCCI) Hall of Fame into concrete economic opportunities for grassroots businesses.

Treñas said the city must ensure that its business-friendly policies benefit not only established companies and major investors but also small entrepreneurs who contribute to the local economy.

“Indi lamang ang dalagko nga investors kag companies ang dapat naton buligan. Kinahanglan nga ang aton mga magagmay nga negosyante — ang may sari-sari store, carinderia, food business kag iban pa nga micro kag nano enterprises — may access man sa suporta sang gobyerno,” she said.

Aside from an incentives ordinance, the city government is pursuing the institutionalization of the Negosyo Development Academy, the Nano Food Truck Ordinance and startup development initiatives.

These measures are intended to strengthen government assistance for small businesses, encourage entrepreneurship and create additional livelihood and employment opportunities for Ilonggo families.

Treñas also wants enterprise development programs institutionalized to ensure their continuity even under succeeding administrations.

“I want to see our small businesses become bigger businesses,” the mayor said.

The renewed focus on grassroots entrepreneurship follows Iloilo City’s third Most Business-Friendly Local Government Unit award from the PCCI, which earned the city a place in the organization’s Hall of Fame.

The city previously won the distinction in 2023 and 2025 before securing another victory in 2026 in the Highly Urbanized City category outside Metro Manila.

While welcoming the recognition, Treñas stressed that the achievement should serve as a challenge to improve public services and make economic opportunities more accessible to businesses of all sizes.

“This gives us more reason to improve our services, strengthen our partnership with the private sector, and make sure that no business, especially our smallest entrepreneurs, is left behind,” she added.

PCCI Area Vice President for the Visayas and Regional Development Council-Western Visayas co-chairperson Atty. Jobert A. Peñaflorida underscored the importance of ensuring that smaller enterprises benefit from the city’s economic achievements.

“May this further inspire us to work even harder to ensure that all sectors of our community, especially our MSMEs (micro, small and medium enterprises), enjoy the fruits of these achievements,” he said./PN