Record 5,400 PCL delegates book out Iloilo City hotels

By Rjay Zuriaga Castor

ILOILO CITY — The record turnout of more than 5,400 delegates for the Philippine Councilors League national assembly has pushed Iloilo City’s accommodation capacity to its limits, with hotels and condominium units fully booked for the event, according to the league’s Iloilo chapter.

PCL-Iloilo chapter president JP Peñol said the gathering is the largest PCL national assembly held outside Metro Manila in 35 years, based on figures from the PCL national office.

“It is a record-breaker. This is by far the biggest national assembly attendance outside Metro Manila in a span of 35 years,” he said in a statement.

Iloilo City is hosting the PCL’s 2026 Second Quarterly Continuing Local Legislative Education Program from July 29 to 31.

The influx of local legislators, however, meant that even councilors from Iloilo had to give way to delegates from other provinces and cities.

Peñol said many of the visiting councilors had already booked flights and traveled to Iloilo, leaving the host city and province to accommodate them despite limited lodging capacity.

“If anyone has to make a sacrifice, it has to be the host city and province. Many people want to visit us, and we really wanted to attend this national event being held here. But as a good host province and city, we decided to step aside for now because almost all the hotels and condominium units are already occupied,” he said.

“So that we can provide accommodation for more than 5,400 councilors from different provinces and cities across the Philippines, we decided to give way. They had already booked their flights, and some of them are already here in Iloilo,” he added.

Peñol said the situation also highlights the need for Iloilo City and the province to develop a larger convention facility as Iloilo continues to position itself as a center for meetings, incentives, conferences, and exhibitions.

“It would be good if, eventually, we have a bigger venue. It is wishful thinking, but hopefully in the near future, we will have a bigger facility to welcome everyone,” he said.

The Iloilo Convention Center in Mandurriao district, the largest such facility in Western Visayas, seats 3,700 in its main hall with 500 more in second-floor function rooms.

A day before the assembly opened, the Iloilo Provincial Government asked the Tourism Infrastructure and Enterprise Zone Authority to help finance a convention and events facility in Santa Barbara as part of the planned Iloilo Smart Green Government Center.

PCL national president Benjamin “Benjie” Abalos III said the three-day gathering, which runs until July 31, aims to strengthen the legislative capabilities of local lawmakers through policy discussions, plenary sessions, and breakout workshops, while providing a venue for sharing governance best practices.

During the opening program, the PCL signed a memorandum of agreement with the Vice Mayors League of the Philippines and the League of Sangguniang Secretaries to support the digitalization of local legislative processes.

The league also signed an agreement with the Integrated Bar of the Philippines to strengthen its framework.

Abalos III said the partnerships with other leagues of local officials form part of the PCL’s proposed e-Legis system, which seeks to create a nationwide digital repository of local ordinances and resolutions.

“If someone from Luzon drafts an environmental or transportation ordinance and uploads it, officials in Visayas and Mindanao can immediately access and learn from it. We’re sharing knowledge that’s just one click away,” he said.

He added that while the PCL has been conducting quarterly legislative education programs to build consensus among local legislators, the organization believes a digital platform is necessary to further improve collaboration and legislative efficiency.

‘Malacañang open to everyone’

Cabinet Secretary Benjamin “Benhur” Abalos Jr., who delivered the keynote speech, assured councilors that the Marcos administration remains accessible to local government units, saying Malacañang is committed to listening to grassroots concerns and translating them into government action.

“Malacañang is always open to everyone. My office is always open to everyone,” he said in his keynote address.

“We still have a lot to do. We will listen to you. More importantly, we will act,” he added.

He said President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. entrusted him with the Cabinet secretary post to ensure that the concerns of local governments, the private sector, and the public are properly coordinated among government agencies and acted upon.

Marcos appointed Abalos Jr. as Cabinet secretary on July 8, reviving a post the President had abolished in 2022. Abalos Jr. headed the Department of the Interior and Local Government from 2022 to 2024 before an unsuccessful Senate bid in the 2025 midterm elections. He is the father of Abalos III, a Mandaluyong City councilor elected PCL national president in March.

Abalos Jr. underscored the vital role of city and municipal councilors in driving local development, saying effective governance begins with sound legislation.

“Every good project starts with an ordinance,” he said, urging local legislators to craft measures that produce long-term benefits for their communities.

He encouraged councilors to adopt successful programs implemented by other local government units, citing Iloilo City’s rehabilitation of the Iloilo River as an example of how sustained leadership and effective policies can transform public spaces.

Abalos Jr. also highlighted Bataan’s solar-powered electric vehicle charging stations installed in public gymnasiums as a model initiative that promotes both public service and renewable energy.

The cabinet secretary likewise urged local officials to maximize the use of the eGovPH app, saying the digital platform is intended to make government services more efficient, accessible, and responsive.

The PCL was organized in September 1990 and groups all elected, appointed, and ex officio members of city and municipal councils nationwide. Presidents of its provincial chapters sit as ex officio members of their Sangguniang Panlalawigan.