ILOILO – In a significant administrative relocation, three key regional government agencies have moved their operations from Iloilo City to Santa Barbara, Iloilo, signalling a growing trend toward decongesting the city and expanding government presence in nearby towns.
The latest to transfer is the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) Region 6, which officially began operating from its new office in Barangay Bolong Oeste, Santa Barbara on May 5, ceasing all activities at its former headquarters in Fort San Pedro, Iloilo City.
“Effective today, May 5, our new regional office is now fully operational,” the DILG-6 said in a public advisory. “All future correspondences should be addressed and delivered to our new office.”
The agency also advised clients to reach them through email while landline systems are still being installed.
The DILG-6’s move follows earlier relocations by the Department of Health (DOH) Western Visayas – Center for Health Development (CHD) and the National Nutrition Council (NNC) Region 6 to the same government complex in Santa Barbara.
DOH-6 transferred in 2024 from its previous location inside the Western Visayas Medical Center (WVMC) compound in Mandurriao, Iloilo City. The move not only expanded DOH’s space to better accommodate clients but also allowed WVMC to utilize the vacated area to support its healthcare services.
DOH’s new facility in Santa Barbara was constructed with a ₱300-million fund from the DOH Central Office, with construction beginning in 2018.
Meanwhile, NNC-6 also transferred earlier this year to co-locate within the DOH-6 building, leaving behind its rented office space near Jaro Plaza.
The land occupied by the new regional offices was donated by the Iloilo provincial government, reinforcing Santa Barbara’s emerging status as a growing regional administrative hub outside of Iloilo City./PN
