Ex-Mayor Mabilog criticizes Iloilo City’s debt, leadership

By Mariela Angella Oladive

Former Iloilo City Mayor Jed Patrick Mabilog voiced concerns about the city’s current state during a speech at the general assembly for Gugma-FMR and Tulong Dunong Program (TDP) scholars on September 29 at the University of San Agustin gymnasium.

“My beloved brothers and sisters from Iloilo, what we have experienced in our beloved city and country is oppression, restraint, and abuse; there is no escape, there is fear, and we are burdened with debt,” Mabilog said.

Although he did not mention the current administration directly, his remarks sparked speculation about a critique of Mayor Jerry Treñas’s leadership.

Concerns have arisen about the process of obtaining certificates of indigency required for scholarship eligibility.

Some scholars reported difficulties acquiring these certificates, alleging that barangay officials aligned with the Treñas administration withheld them.

During a Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) Tulong Panghanapbuhay sa Ating Disadvantaged/Displaced Workers (TUPAD) payout last week, which Mabilog also attended, Iloilo City Lone District Rep. Julienne “Jam-jam” Baronda revealed that approximately 1,500 residents were excluded from the program due to a barangay captain’s refusal to sign their applications.

When asked if the issue persists, Baronda said, “There is still intimidation, but let us understand that. Let us pray to God, and just spread love and kindness. Always remember that there is hope; every problem has a solution.”

Recently, the Treñas administration secured a PHP 300 million loan from the Development Bank of the Philippines (DBP) to complete three public markets.

The loan is part of a series of borrowings that have raised concerns about Iloilo City’s long-term fiscal sustainability.

City Councilor Rex Marcus Sarabia previously noted that the city’s total debt stands at PHP 917 million, down from an initial PHP 1.7 billion loan, with PHP 617 million owed to DBP and PHP 300 million to the Land Bank of the Philippines.

Sarabia added that the city has not yet reached its borrowing limit and could still borrow an estimated PHP 2 billion to PHP 3 billion.

Despite ongoing speculation about his political future, Mabilog did not confirm any plans to run for public office again.