Priority Legislation, Not Just Incentives

The push to incentivize Ilonggo heritage-inspired architectural designs is, at its core, a creative attempt to balance modern urbanization with the city’s cultural identity. Utilizing social media to engage the public in legislative matters is a useful tool in governance, as it provides a direct channel for gauging sentiment and encouraging discourse.

Iloilo City’s architectural heritage is undeniably a source of pride. The proposed ordinance, which seeks to grant up to 20% real property tax incentives for buildings incorporating Ilonggo culture, is a commendable step toward preserving the city’s historical charm. The downtown area, particularly Calle Real, serves as a visible reminder of Iloilo’s economic and cultural prominence. Any effort to sustain this identity while fostering development is a worthy pursuit.

However, Iloilo’s built heritage is already afforded various protections and incentives. Existing laws and policies promote the adaptive reuse of old structures, allowing owners to preserve historical aesthetics while reinforcing buildings for modern use. Instead of introducing additional perks for new developments, the city could focus on enhancing enforcement of current laws to encourage responsible heritage conservation without additional tax breaks.

While engaging with the public via social media is beneficial, policymakers must ensure that legislative priorities reflect the pressing needs of the majority. Beyond aesthetics and heritage preservation, the city faces economic and social challenges that require urgent attention.

The recent real property tax (RPT) increase, for example, has sparked significant anxiety among property owners, businesses, and ordinary residents. While incentives for heritage design may provide slight relief for some, they do little to address the broader financial strain that taxpayers now face.

Instead of focusing on heritage-inspired designs for new buildings, the local government should explore ways to ease the burden of the RPT hike. Tax relief measures, apart from staggered payment options, or direct assistance to affected businesses and homeowners could offer more immediate and tangible benefits to the public. The city’s leadership must prioritize solutions that provide widespread economic relief rather than incentives that cater to a niche sector.

The enthusiasm for Iloilo’s heritage is commendable, and his efforts to involve the public in policymaking are a positive step. However, the energy and political capital would be better spent on policies that address fundamental socio-economic concerns.

The city’s leaders must ensure that policymaking is rooted in necessity, fairness, and long-term impact—while also using social media as a tool to amplify, not dictate, meaningful legislative action.