ILOILO City – On her first day as this city’s chief executive, Mayor Raisa Treñas signed four executive orders aimed at fast-tracking solutions to some of Iloilo City’s most pressing urban problems — while also appointing her father and predecessor, former mayor Jerry Treñas, as special adviser.
The newly minted mayor made clear her administration’s intention to confront major challenges head-on, starting with flooding, informal settlements, and the need for values-driven governance. But it was her formal move to retain her father in a consultative capacity that drew both attention and symbolism — a gesture of continuity, tempered with independence.
Among the four executive orders, Executive Order (EO) No. 001 reconstituted the Iloilo City Drainage Task Force, which she will personally lead. The task force is mandated to assess and streamline drainage interventions across flood-prone zones such as La Paz Huervana, Camalig, Jalandoni-General Luna-Mabini, Dungon Creek, and Timawa in Molo.
“This EO is meant to consolidate all drainage-related programs under one task force so we can act more effectively and urgently,” Treñas said. “Flooding remains one of our biggest urban challenges, and this team will focus on vulnerable zones and propose strategic mitigation plans.”
EO No. 002 revives the Task Force on Anti-Squatting and Illegal Structures, still headed by Lovejoy Hosenilla, while EO No. 003 reorganizes the Task Force on Morals and Values Formation, with Nestor Canong continuing as lead.
Capping her first-day actions, EO No. 004 designated former mayor Jerry Treñas as special adviser to the Iloilo City Government. The position is honorary, with no salary, and limits the elder Treñas to an advisory role “only when requested.”
“As special adviser, he shall provide advice to the City Mayor with regard to political concerns, and also with regard to management and governance of the city,” the executive order reads.
Former Mayor Treñas issued a statement underscoring his support for his daughter’s administration: “I will only give advice when I’m asked. I will remain silent when I am not. My daughter, Mayor Raisa Treñas, is strong-willed, independent-minded, and fully capable of making her own decisions.”
He emphasized his belief in institutional continuity and expressed confidence in the city’s department heads and legal team to support the new administration./PN
