Iloilo City vows stronger child welfare programs

By Rjay Zuriaga Castor

The Iloilo City government has recently pledged stronger efforts on children’s welfare after placing Top 4 in the 2025 Child-Friendly Local Governance Awards.

Iloilo City Mayor Raisa Treñas-Chu recognized the program’s rigorous evaluation process to ensure that programs and initiatives genuinely benefit children.

She pledged that the city government would further strengthen child-focused programs, stressing that children’s welfare would remain a priority in her administration.

Treñas also said the city remains open to ideas, suggestions, and feedback to improve policies and services for Ilonggo children.

“The programs we launched for children were made possible because of your openness in expressing your needs and aspirations. The local government merely served as a conduit,” Treñas-Chu said.

Iloilo City received two plaques of recognition as Regional Winner and National Finalist.

The award was accepted by Treñas-Chu together with members of the Iloilo City Local Council for the Protection of Children during the 2025 Presidential Award for Child-Friendly Municipalities and Cities in Pasay City.

The city’s lone Representative Julienne “JamJam” Baronda, however, while commending the city’s inclusion in the Top 4, pointed out the decline in its national standing compared to previous years.

“This is something that we should still be proud of. Though previously, in 2011-2016, we were No. 1 Child-Friendly City,” Baronda said.

She stressed that regaining Iloilo City’s former standing would require unity, competence, and leadership, adding that public service should be driven by people’s welfare rather than political self-interest.

“[A] change in the kind of public service—one that does not depend on political survival—is needed for the people of Iloilo City we all love to succeed once again,” she added.

Data between 2011 and 2016 indicated that Iloilo City consistently ranked among the top performers in child-friendly governance in the regional level.

In 2016, the city emerged as Top Performing City in Western Visayas, scoring 92 percent in the Regional Child-Friendly Local Governance Audit, and shared the top regional spot with Lambunao, Iloilo.

The city was also a Seal of Child-Friendly Local Governance awardee in 2014 and 2015, and a National Finalist for the Presidential Award in 2013 under the Highly Urbanized City category.

During the 2011–2016 window, Iloilo City was a consistent powerhouse in Western Visayas, but the top national spots were typically awarded to other major cities in the Highly Urbanized City category such as Davao and Mandaluyong.