THREE victories. One Hall of Fame distinction. And an even greater responsibility.
Iloilo City’s induction into the Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry’s Hall of Fame for the Most Business-Friendly Local Government Unit is an extraordinary achievement. The true measure of economic success, however, lies in the number of ordinary Ilonggos whose lives have improved.
Having won the prestigious award in 2023, 2025, and 2026, Iloilo City has demonstrated that business-friendly governance is not a fleeting accomplishment but a sustained institutional commitment.
The city’s economic performance lends substance to its recognition. According to the Philippine Statistics Authority, Iloilo City’s economy expanded by 6.1 percent in 2025, with industry growing by seven percent, services by six percent, and agriculture, forestry, and fishing by 5.1 percent. These reflect a dynamic local economy capable of attracting investments and generating opportunities.
Equally commendable are the reforms that have made government transactions more efficient. Digital business permitting, cashless payments, automated queuing systems, and streamlined processing demonstrate how bureaucracy can become a facilitator of enterprise rather than an obstacle to progress.
But how much of this economic success is actually reaching the ordinary Ilonggo?
A thriving business district means little to a family struggling to put food on the table. Rising investments offer limited comfort to workers whose wages cannot keep pace with living expenses. And an impressive economic growth rate becomes an empty statistic when small entrepreneurs remain trapped in poverty and financial insecurity.
This is where Mayor Raisa Treñas’ declared commitment to micro and nano enterprises becomes particularly significant. Her aspiration to see small businesses become bigger businesses is precisely the direction Iloilo City must pursue. The sari-sari store owner, carinderia operator, market vendor, food seller, and neighborhood entrepreneur need affordable financing, accessible business assistance, manageable regulatory requirements, and genuine opportunities to compete and expand.
The proposed Nano Enterprise Incentives Ordinance, institutionalization of the Negosyo Development Academy, Nano Food Truck Ordinance, and startup development programs offer promising avenues toward inclusive economic growth.
But proposals and programs must produce measurable results. How many struggling enterprises will become sustainable? How many informal entrepreneurs will successfully enter the formal economy? How many additional jobs will these initiatives generate?
These are the questions that should define the city’s next chapter.
The local government must also guard against a development model that disproportionately favors large corporations while smaller enterprises struggle to survive. Business-friendly governance should never mean preferential treatment for those with the deepest pockets. It must mean creating a fair economic environment where opportunity is determined by enterprise and innovation, not wealth, influence, or political connections.
Equally important is ensuring that economic expansion translates into decent employment, better incomes, and improved public services. Investments must create opportunities for local workers, while infrastructure development must benefit communities beyond the city’s commercial centers.
The greater challenge now is proving that Iloilo City can transform institutional excellence into shared prosperity. The Hall of Fame should therefore be treated as a demanding new benchmark. Every future policy, investment, and development initiative must be judged by its contribution to improving the lives of ordinary citizens.
For ultimately, the greatest honor Iloilo City can earn is not another trophy from the business community, but the confidence of its people that prosperity is no longer a privilege enjoyed by a few, but an opportunity shared by all.
