ILOILO City – Raisa Treñas, the only daughter of Iloilo City’s Mayor Jerry P. Treñas, is carving her own niche in public service.
Her passion for serving and leading traces back to her formative years. Since she grew up in a service-oriented family, Raisa witnessed firsthand the dedication and commitment her parents demonstrated in their respective roles.
Her father, a distinguished lawyer and accomplished public servant, and her mother, a successful entrepreneur, exemplified the values of leadership and community service.
Conversations at home often revolved around helping people and envisioning for the city. It was during these early years that Raisa developed a profound understanding and fueled her desire to contribute to the overall welfare of the community.
Her family’s legacy and values guided her path to selfless service.
Being the eldest among five siblings, Raisa embraced the significant responsibility of managing the family business as Chief Executive Officer. She applied her business acumen and honed her leadership skills, overseeing the growth of the company from 30 to 200 employees. She was also elected as treasurer of the Iloilo Baker’s Association.
“Working as a CEO was no joke. I had to think of ways to support not just our business quality, but also the livelihood of our team,” Raisa shared.
In her desire to improve and reinforce her capability as company leader, Raisa, after earning a degree in Bachelor of Science in Commerce, majoring in Business and Economics, pursued and earned a Master’s degree in Entrepreneurship from the Ateneo Graduate School of Business.
Driven by a greater calling, she transitioned into public service. Inspired by her father, Raisa embraced the privilege of serving Iloilo City and the Ilonggos with enthusiasm and commitment.
She started as a volunteer during the COVID-19 pandemic. Throughout that challenging period, Raisa worked diligently behind the scenes, assisting her father and spearheading important initiatives.
One notable project was the Uswag Community Kitchen, which provided meals to communities affected by the global health crisis. This not only addressed immediate needs but also fostered a sense of solidarity and support within the community.
Raisa led and mobilized more than 200 Uswag Community Kitchens and Uswag Kitchen Patrol to serve meals to thousands of Ilonggo families every day.
She also spearheaded the production of 200,000 facemasks, and various relief efforts.
Raisa Treñas was also the second nominee of Uswag Ilonggo Party-List, a role that provided her with another significant opportunity to connect with the grassroots. This privilege allowed her to engage directly with the masses, understand their needs, and advocate for their concerns at a higher level.
She honed her skills in public service by working closely with various sectors, addressing local issues, and implementing programs that directly benefited the people, while working as chief of staff in Congress.
As an empowered young lady, she joined and became the secretary of Zonta Club Iloilo II, an all-female organization that advocates for women’s rights which aims to build them a better world.
Her commitment to the community became more evident in her work as executive assistant to the mayor, playing a vital role in programs and projects aimed at improving the lives of Ilonggos.
Raisa prioritized the JPT Ediscape, a communal vegetable gardening project, by collaborating with the City Agriculturist’s Office and other concerned City Hall offices.
Building on the success of JPT Ediscape, Raisa introduced the RISE-A-FARM (Resilient, Integrated, Sustainable Environment) program, a holistic approach to combat hunger and promote agricultural development in the city. This comprehensive and eco-friendly initiative seeks to ensure that “no Ilonggo is left behind”, reflecting Raisa’s vision for a sustainable and inclusive Iloilo City.
“Dako gid and nabulig sang Rise-A-Farm. May mga native chicken kag tilapia nga ginpasagod sa amon kag mga ulutanon. Ang aton harvest ma-avail sang aton pumuluyo sa manubo nga presyo,” said farmer Richard Marciano, who is selling his produce through USWAG Rolling Store and Merkado Lokal, among the components of Rise-A-Farm.
Now a family woman and a devoted mother, Raisa understands the importance of family and strives to be a positive role model for others.
Motherhood has become her motivation to work towards a better future for the community, turning her vision into a mantra, “The continuation of Iloilo City’s progress, one Ilonggo family at a time.”
With this, she empathizes with every mother’s dream for their family.
“My priorities for the people have truly expanded. Now, I must think, work and provide the best not just for my family, but also for every family that relies on the City Government for health, social and welfare services. I have felt the challenges of being a hands-on mother, and can truly relate to the lives of every mother in the community,” she said.
Among her priorities are nutrition, health, education, and sports for the youth.
Raisa also helped empower USWAG Scholars, planned and implemented livelihood programs like tRAIbaho Ilonggo and Uswag Negosyo Academy (UNA); and launched activities such as LaygayLayi, Legal Consultation, USGWAPS, and Ginhawa: Mental Health Program.
The “tRAIbaho Ilonggo” and UNA programs were born out of Raisa’s desire to assist those who are unemployed and to support market vendors as the city’s public markets undergo upgrades.
“We conceived the tRAIbaho program because, during our rounds, we saw that many people were still without jobs. Similarly, our UNA program was designed to help upgrade the market vendors in line with the redevelopment of our markets,” said Raisa.
Raisa shared that the city assesses jobseekers and links them to corresponding government agencies. If there are no available jobs, the city develops programs for them, with tRAIbaho Ilonggo being one of these initiatives.
Under the tRAIbaho program, a total of 1,230 individuals, including solo parents, unemployed individuals, and out-of-school youth, availed themselves of the skills training program.
The UNA, on the other hand, was created from Raisa’s aspiration to help micro small and medium enterprises (MSMEs), especially during the pandemic when many of them were affected and did not know what to do.
Under UNA, 14 batches with a total of 323 MSMEs specifically market vendors, graduated from the training course since April 2023. All of these graduates also received additional business capital totaling to P1.405 million through the Iloilo City Government and BDO Foundation.
Raisa took pride in her significant contributions to the national and international recognitions of Iloilo City, such as being designated as UNESCO Creative City of Gastronomy; Galing Pook Award for I-Bike; two-time Galing Pook finalist for the Iloilo City Sports Academy; and another Galing Pook-Walang Gutom Award 2024 finalist for the Rise-A-Farm anti-hunger initiatives.
“Beyond the pride and honor of receiving these recognitions, we always focus on the underlying purpose of our programs and projects. Our goal is to uplift the lives of our people and drive the development of our city,” she emphasized.
Working closely with individuals from all walks of life, especially from grassroots communities, has indeed been a rewarding and transformative experience for Raisa.
These interactions have shaped her into a leader with a clear vision for the future of Iloilo City. She values the strong collaboration with private sector, and City Hall employees, recognizing that inclusive development is best achieved through collective efforts.
“I am excited to work, collaborate and create more programs that will ensure better opportunities for the people, as well as maintain the momentum of RISE Iloilo City Program,” Raisa enthused.
Through her story of resilience, community-empowerment, and the power of working together for the greater good, she is truly making a name for herself, determined to forge her own legacy.
She is not just her father’s daughter; she is an empowered woman, a devoted mother, and a dedicated public servant and leader in her own right.
She is Raisa Treñas, a woman of her own. She is more than ready to take on greater responsibility head-on./PN
