ILOILO City — Mayor Raisa Treñas used one of the world’s premier urban development platforms to declare that Iloilo City is positioning itself as a people-centered urban center focused on resilience, inclusivity, and improving the lives of ordinary Ilonggos.
Speaking in an exclusive interview with Channel NewsAsia (CNA) during the World Cities Summit 2026 in Singapore, Treñas outlined Iloilo City’s development philosophy before an international audience of city leaders, policymakers, urban planners, and development experts.
“We don’t dream to be a mega city. We dream to be a better city that is people-centered and a city for everyone,” Treñas told CNA.
The mayor said the city’s development agenda seeks to balance economic growth with social inclusion, ensuring that progress benefits residents while preserving Iloilo City’s identity and livability.
She stressed that urban success should not be measured solely by infrastructure projects or economic indicators but by how government initiatives improve people’s daily lives.
A key feature of Iloilo City’s presentation was its disaster preparedness and resilience program, which Treñas described as an integral part of governance amid growing climate-related threats. The city has institutionalized disaster risk reduction through emergency drills, community training, hazard mapping, preparedness protocols, flood mitigation projects, emergency response systems, and public awareness campaigns.
“We want everyone to be prepared. It’s easier for people to respond during emergencies when they already know what to check and what to do. We have embedded these practices into the system,” she said.
According to Treñas, disaster resilience is no longer treated as a stand-alone initiative but is integrated into the city’s planning and decision-making processes.
“Disaster preparedness and resilience are part of our strategic roadmap. Whatever we do, we have a vision for the city, and we incorporate it into everything because it has become part of our everyday life,” Treñas said.
The mayor also highlighted the modernization of five major public markets, describing them as among the city’s flagship projects. Through public-private partnerships and local government investments, the markets have been transformed into modern facilities that support vendors, farmers, fisherfolk, and small entrepreneurs while attracting tourists and promoting local products.
“These markets are not just places where people buy and sell goods. They have become centers of economic activity and spaces where we can showcase the identity and culture of Iloilo,” Treñas explained.
She said Iloilo City’s relatively smaller size gives it an advantage in remaining responsive and adaptive to community needs despite rapid development.
“If we continue doing these projects that improve the lives of Ilonggos and keep putting people first, we can create a city that is distinct from many mega cities,” she said.
“Being a smaller city, it is easier to navigate and be more responsive and adaptive as well as closer to the needs of the Ilonggos,” she added.
Treñas identified housing as one of the city’s next major priorities, saying the local government is expanding rental housing initiatives, socialized housing programs, and partnerships with national agencies and private developers to ensure wider access to affordable homes.
“We are making sure that everyone will have access to housing. In the end, we want a home for everyone,” she said.
As Iloilo City gains increasing international recognition for its governance and urban development initiatives, Treñas said global exposure remains meaningful only if it translates into better services and opportunities for residents.
“Ini ang padayon naton nga handum para sa Iloilo Cityv — isa ka siyudad nga nagapaminsar para sa katawhan kag nagahatag sang oportunidad para sa tanan,” she said.
The World Cities Summit 2026 gathered hundreds of city leaders worldwide to discuss solutions on sustainability, resilience, urban innovation, and inclusive development. For Iloilo City, the event served as both a platform to showcase its governance model and an opportunity to learn from other cities facing similar urban challenges./PN
“We don’t dream to be a mega city. We dream to be a better city that is people-centered and a city for everyone,” says Iloilo City’s Mayor Raisa S. Treñas during an exclusive interview with Channel NewsAsia at the World Cities Summit 2026 in Singapore.
