BY MA. THERESA LADIAO
ILOILO City – From streamlining governance to boosting local employment and delivering urgent disaster response, Iloilo City’s Mayor Raisa Treñas presented a comprehensive report of her administration’s accomplishments in her first 30 days in office.
She cited over 150 official engagements, ranging from executive meetings and community events to inaugurations of vital public services. Among them was the opening of the Uswag Clinic at City Hall, which has already catered to 335 patients, and the groundbreaking of a water refilling station in Barangay San Isidro, Jaro district to improve community access to clean water.
“From Day 1, June 30 at exactly 12:01 p.m., our team hit the ground running,” she said, emphasizing the immediate rollout of her open-door policy. “We welcomed everyone, even beyond office hours. Lunch breaks were cut short to just 15 minutes, because public service can’t wait.”
Her first month also brought major challenges: three consecutive tropical cyclones — “Crising”, “Dante”, and “Emong”, exacerbated by the southwest monsoon that led to widespread flooding. Treñas coordinated city-wide emergency operations round the clock, earning her the nickname “Mapisan Mayor” from observers impressed by her hands-on approach.
In response, the City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (CDRRMC) declared a State of Calamity, enabling the city to access P21.5 million from the Quick Response Fund (QRF) for emergency relief and recovery. This includes:
* P20 million for developing a relocation site in Barangay San Juan, Molo district
* P1.4 million for food assistance
* P100,000 for seed distribution to affected farmers
Within her first month, Treñas signed 54 Executive Orders (EO) and issued 120 Memorandum Orders, targeting critical areas such as:
* Restructuring city committees and councils
* Activating city-wide cleanup drives
* Implementing class and work suspensions during typhoons
* Enforcing open governance and transparency
* Realigning budgets for urgent needs
The City Council, under her guidance, passed 71 ordinances and resolutions, many of which support infrastructure development, public health programs, and socio-economic initiatives.
Mayor Treñas personally visited health centers, public markets, and city projects to gather feedback and monitor progress. She intervened directly to address payroll delays and spearheaded staff training programs, eight sessions for 210 employees so far, with a target of 65 sessions by yearend.
Starting July 1, job hire daily rates were increased to P130, ensuring workers are covered by health insurance.
Her administration has also produced encouraging indicators of economic momentum. In just one month:
* 1,912 jobs were generated through city-led recruitment activities
* 300 new businesses were registered, reflecting investor confidence
* The city endorsed an extension of the 40% RPT discount until 2028 to ease the tax burden on property owners.
On public safety, the city logged 70 anti-drug operations, resulting in 91 arrests and the confiscation of nearly P21 million worth of shabu, the highest so far in 2025. Enforcers also apprehended 121 illegal parking violators, 21 anti-muffler offenders, and issued 92 clamping tickets as part of road discipline and mobility initiatives.
Animal welfare and inclusivity
In line with her pro-animal stance, Treñas also highlighted gains in animal health: over 10,000 dogs vaccinated against rabies, 156 animals neutered, and 5 dogs adopted through city-supported animal welfare programs.
Mayor Treñas capped her report with a forward-looking promise: the launch of several programs in the coming months focused on “every Ilonggo family” — with inclusivity and collaboration as core values.
“Public service must be real, timely, and compassionate,” Treñas said. “We will continue to rise to action — not just in words but in concrete solutions that reach every household, every barangay, and every Ilonggo.”/PN
