ILEDF Backs New Iloilo Leaders, Commits to Growth

The Iloilo Economic Development Foundation (ILEDF) has pledged full support for the newly elected leaders of Iloilo City and Iloilo Province, calling their victory a fresh mandate for inclusive governance and progressive leadership.

In a statement released May 13, ILEDF President Roel Z. Castro congratulated Jam Jam Baronda, re-elected as congresswoman of the Lone District of Iloilo City; Raisa Treñas, newly elected mayor of Iloilo City; Love Baronda, the incoming vice mayor of Iloilo City; Arthur Defensor, Jr., re-elected governor of Iloilo Province; and Lee Ann Debuque, the new vice governor of Iloilo Province.

“Their election reflects the trust and confidence the people of Iloilo have placed in their leadership and their ongoing commitment to public service,” Castro said.

The recent polls mark a significant shift in Iloilo’s political landscape, with women now holding a majority of top posts in both city and provincial governments—a development ILEDF described as symbolic of “a new chapter” in local governance.

The group praised the blend of “seasoned experience and fresh perspective,” noting that this composition of leaders reflects “not only continuity, but also a collective readiness to meet the evolving needs of our communities.”

ILEDF emphasized that Iloilo’s rise as a center of commerce and culture in Western Visayas was fueled by close collaboration between government and the private sector.

“Iloilo’s success in recent years is the result of meaningful collaboration… grounded in empathy for the needs of the people and a shared commitment to innovation and excellence,” the foundation said.

As a private sector-led organization committed to sustainable, inclusive development, ILEDF said the election result comes at a crucial time, when Iloilo is poised to expand its influence in trade, tourism, and investment.

“This is the best time to level up Iloilo,” Castro stated.

“We are ready to support your administration’s economic agenda,” he added, reaffirming ILEDF’s role as a key partner in making Iloilo “resilient, investor-friendly, and future-ready.”