DILG asked to probe Iloilo City’s ‘TLC ni Inday’ program

By Joseph Bernard A. Marzan

A lawyer has asked the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) to investigate Iloilo City Mayor Raisa Treñas-Chu over the alleged use of her nickname in a government-funded livelihood program, claiming it may violate the anti-“epal” policy.

In a complaint filed and sent to DILG Secretary Jonvic Remulla on Thursday, May 28, lawyer Josiah David Quising asked the agency to investigate the “TLC ni Inday” livelihood initiative of the Iloilo City Government.

TLC ni Inday — which stands for Tindahan, Livelihood, and Cart ni Inday — provides seed capital and other material support to beneficiaries, mostly women, to start and improve their small businesses, including sari-sari stores.

Quising cited DILG Memorandum Circular No. 2026-006, which prohibits “the display and/or affixture of the name, image, or likeness of public officials on government-funded projects, programs, activities, and properties.”

The circular also directs officials to remove existing signage, tarpaulins, markers, and other materials bearing “the name, picture, image, motto, logo, color motif, initials, or other symbol or graphic representation associated with any public official on government projects and signboards.”

Quising said publicly available materials showed the Iloilo City Government promoting TLC ni Inday, which he alleged was largely associated with Treñas-Chu.

He cited Treñas-Chu’s certificate of candidacy in the 2025 local elections, in which she indicated her name appearing on the ballot as “INDAY RAISA.”

The complaint attached screenshots of Facebook posts from the Iloilo City Government showing promotional materials for the livelihood program.

“To the extent that the project name, promotional materials, signage, or related communications prominently use that nickname in connection with a government-funded project, such practice may run counter to the [DILG’s] anti-epal policy,” Quising said in his letter.

In his complaint, Quising asked the DILG to:

1. Conduct an appropriate investigation into the use of the name “TLC ni Inday” and any related project materials, signage, or promotional content.
2. Determine whether the project violates DILG Memorandum Circular No. 2026-006 and other applicable laws, rules, and regulations.
3. Direct the immediate removal or correction of any non-compliant materials, if warranted.
4. Take such further administrative or disciplinary action as may be proper under the circumstances.

Quising said the request was made “in the interest of protecting the integrity of public service, ensuring neutrality in the use of government resources, and upholding the prohibition against the use of public projects for personal promotion.”

As of publication, Remulla’s office had received the letter and forwarded it to the office’s administrative team.

In a screenshot provided to the Daily Guardian, former Iloilo City mayor and current DILG Undersecretary Jed Patrick Mabilog was also tagged in the email to the secretary’s office.

The mayor’s spokesperson, Joy Fantilaga-Gorzal, declined to provide a definitive response, saying the office would wait to receive an official copy of the letter before doing so.

“We have seen reports circulating online; however, as of this time, no official copy of the complaint has been formally served to our office. In the interest of fairness and due process, we believe it would be inappropriate to issue a definitive statement until we [can] review the official document,” Fantilaga-Gorzal said.