Iloilo’s heritage glow-up is going global in Singapore

By Rjay Zuriaga Castor

Iloilo City Mayor Raisa Treñas-Chu aims to elevate the city’s cultural and heritage identity on the global stage as she joins the 10th World Cities Summit (WCS) in Singapore.

The biennial event runs June 14 to 16, 2026, with the theme “Liveable and Sustainable Cities: ACT Now!”

Organized by Singapore’s Centre for Liveable Cities and Urban Redevelopment Authority, the summit gathers government leaders, industry experts, and academics to tackle urban livability and sustainability challenges. Its 2024 edition drew more than 3,500 delegates from close to 100 cities, including 115 ministers, mayors, and governors.

Treñas-Chu will join the National Heritage Board (NHB) session titled “Championing Heritage for Loveable Cities,” where she is set to present Iloilo City’s Heritage Conservation Program on June 14.

NHB is one of Singapore’s agencies showcasing heritage preservation as a component of urban livability to international city leaders attending the summit.

This year’s summit features the WRLDCTY Connections Stage, a new thematic track that embeds topics like heritage and culture within urban tracks covering placemaking, architecture, and the 24-hour city.

Treñas-Chu said Iloilo City’s participation reflects its continued push to strengthen its international profile, building on its designation as a UNESCO Creative City of Gastronomy.

The city earned the UNESCO title on Oct. 31, 2023, becoming the first Philippine city recognized for gastronomy under the Creative Cities Network.

She stressed that the engagement provides an opportunity for Iloilo to learn from globally recognized cities that have successfully integrated heritage conservation into urban planning, tourism development, and investment strategies.

“We have seen the positive impact of the UNESCO Creative City of Gastronomy designation on Iloilo City, and we consider this as a basis for a broader development direction,” she said in a statement.

“We continue to strengthen this momentum to further solidify Iloilo City as a globally recognized heritage city,” she added.

Treñas-Chu is also set to participate in the Mayors Forum, particularly the “Re-thinking Urban Energy Transition” plenary, a global platform where city leaders exchange policies and strategies on sustainable and resilient urban development.

As part of the official visit, the mayor will also join learning tours in Singapore, including visits to Maxwell Food Centre, KADA at Maxwell, Chinatown, and the National Gallery Singapore, where heritage preservation practices are showcased as part of broader urban development models.

Vice Mayor Lady Julie Grace Baronda has been designated acting mayor from June 12 to 16 while Treñas-Chu is on official travel.