The honeymoon is over; it’s time to see results

In 2007, leaders in Iloilo City formally banded together to plan out and coordinate the way forward for Iloilo. This group included leaders in government, the private sector and civil society. Their collective effort resulted in many good things. Even prior to the institutionalization of the group, this group of Ilonggos has already begun to work together in their various capacities.

Among the early successes was the completion of the new Iloilo International Airport – one of the few “big-ticket” items in recent history which was completed on schedule albeit over the original budget. Other initiatives and projects in which the group was instrumental in include the Jaro Floodway, the Metro Iloilo Road Network Development Plan (e.g. Circumferential Road 1, Radial Road 4, Iloilo City – Sta. Barbara Road, etc.), the improvement in the power and distribution infrastructure in the city, the Esplanade, the Iloilo Convention Center and many others. The so-called Iloilo City “miracle” did not happen as surreptitiously as one might suspect. All of these were part of a plan to revitalize Iloilo City and turn it into an economic powerhouse ultimately benefiting Ilonggos.

Admittedly, not all of the components of this project were undertaken. One of these missed opportunities was the Metro Iloilo Traffic Zoning Plan. It is easy, in hindsight, to see that many of the projects undertaken under this grand plan helped Iloilo City sidestep many future problems (or at least mitigate them) that were identified in the original project plans. It is also now quite apparent that the future problems (e.g. inner-city traffic congestion) that were identified but not addressed have, indeed, become real problems.

Yet, as Ilonggos, we have to admit that we are better off than most cities in the Philippines. Having said that, being better off should not be enough. It is like saying that we are the best among the worst. There is a lot more work that needs to be done. Who, after all, would be happy with the unresolved traffic congestion and safety issues that are the bane of our daily existence? Who would be happy with the constant fear na bahain maskin sa diutay lang nga ulan? Who would be happy nga mahulat sang tubod sang tubig sa gripo sa balay?

Madamo nga mga Ilonggo ang OFW nga nakatilaw mangabuhi sa iban nga lugar kag naanad sa manami kag reliable nga public mass transport system, mga dalanon nga wala layaw nga mga ido nga makatuga sang rabies kag mga dalan nga indi makabutang sa katalagman sang imo pangabuhi.

In the meantime, ngaa pierme lang may rambol sa plaza sang Jaro, sa Gaisano ICC? Ngaa ga-damo naman graffiti sa ciudad? Ano natabo sa responsible sa mga bomb threat sa iskwelahan, ngaa wala pa siya nadakpan?

Governing a city is a challenge even for the most seasoned local government official. It is too early to tell whether our new mayor will be able to continue to successfully build on the foundations built by her predecessors.

To an outsider, the early indications are not promising. It does not matter whether you are a seasoned mayor or not when responding to issues that show your character and fitness for the job. When asked about the allegations of corruption in the cases of the pedestrian overpass and the ayuda distribution, it would have been simple to say that these are wrong instead of retreating into prolonged silence or sidestepping the issue. Her high-pitched and unnatural delivery of her State of the City Address suggests that she is acting out a script. In trying to sound indignant, she came out as insincere and less than authentic.

This is important. A lack of authenticity belies the lack of a genuine agenda and a real plan to address the needs of Ilonggos. In many ways, this is to be expected from an unprepared and, perhaps, less than willing candidate for mayor. Acting out the guise of unity turned out to be what it was, a guise. Everyone knew it then, and we are getting what we knew we would get: a theater of political one-upmanship that hurts everyone involved but hurts Ilonggos the most.

It is not too late for things to change, but that change requires humility to understand and accept that it is not about them, but about the people of Iloilo. The elections are over, and it would be wise to retire the “Rise this” and “Rise that.” The focus on promoting the person undercuts the sincerity of a platform of government that screams “epal.” Tag lines are OK, but the last two administrations made theirs about Iloilo City: “Think Big. Think Iloilo” and “IamIloilo.” One’s framework for governance is undoubtedly diminished when it is anchored on self-promotion. It undermines the credibility of someone who is entrusted with doing what’s best for the city.

As it is, the receipts have started to come in. Iloilo City has slipped from 4th to 5th in the Competitive Municipalities and Cities Index among Highly Urbanized Cities. Economic growth has slowed from 10.4% to 7.1%, a 3.3% decline in growth that is the worst among the 33 HUCs in the country. Reports from the Department of Finance show that Iloilo City’s income from local sources is down for the first nine months of 2025. The growth of business tax collections has slowed down to 11% from 20%.

Tellingly, despite increasing property taxes in 2024, property tax collections for 2025 were down 9% as of September 2025 compared to the same period in 2024. So, it can be one of three things: Tax collections are inefficient, people are not paying because they can’t afford it, or people are not paying in protest. Is this why the city is borrowing another PHP 300 million?

To be fair, most of these receipts reflect the performance of the city under the previous administration. The next six months are important to steadying the ship, so to speak. The actions taken will be by the current administration, and their results can no longer be attributed to the previous mayor.

Some problems will take time to resolve, but definitive plans are needed toward the resolution of these problems. Questions that need answers include, among others:

1. Where will our garbage go when the Calajunan Landfill is closed?
2. When can we finally have water flowing through our taps on a 24-hour basis?
3. What are the plans to resolve, if not mitigate, flood control?
4. When will we see the plan for the Bus Rapid Transit and the future of mass transit in Iloilo City?
5. When will the city hospital be finished?

In the meantime, there are some problems for which substantive actions can be done right now in areas such as:

1. Traffic management (real data and science-informed solutions, not pinalagpat; serious and consistent enforcement of traffic laws, regulations and ordinances; better-trained enforcers)
2. Waste segregation (enforcement of waste segregation laws and ordinances)
3. Road safety (fixing potholes and other roadway hazards, installation of standardized road safety signs and street markings, removal of sidewalk obstructions)

Mahapos lang maghatag sang ayuda. Indi ini ang solusyon nga ginapangita sang tawo. It will be those mentioned earlier.

The honeymoon period is over. The only way to silence critics is through substantive and meaningful actions that benefit the people of Iloilo City. Actions that make their daily lives a little easier.

Aiming to be the most competitive city is OK, but that should not be seen as the end-all, be-all. We must ask ourselves, what is it to become the most competitive city in the Philippines? So, we would be ahead of Quezon City, Makati, Pasay and Muntinlupa. We could (maybe) attract more investments. We would have bragging rights.

Do these matter to the ordinary Ilonggo? Probably not if they still can’t have a reliable water supply, not if the traffic situation gets worse, not if they still have to deal with insufficient and convenient public transportation.

Beyond the important little things, what is the vision? Where are you taking us? Is that where we want to go?

Talk to people. Walk the city streets. Have real conversations. These help.