Treñas-Chu seeks 30 executive aides, PHP 24.5-million payroll in 2027

ILOILO CITY — The Office of Iloilo City Mayor Raisa Treñas-Chu would have 30 executive assistants (EAs) in 2027 under the city’s proposed budget, up from 29 in 2026 and 21 in 2025, when she took office.

The proposed staffing represents a 43% increase in the number of EA positions in two years.

Details of the proposed 2027 budget obtained by Daily Guardian show a proposed annual personnel allocation of PHP 24,534,636 for the positions.

Of the 30 positions, six are vacant: two EA V posts and four EA I posts.

Treñas-Chu assumed office on June 30, 2025, succeeding her father, former Mayor Jerry Treñas.

Executive assistants hold confidential, coterminous appointments, meaning their tenure ends with the term of the official who appointed them.

The plantilla positions include former elected officials, veteran public administrators, retired law enforcement officers, and technical specialists assigned to oversee various city programs and offices.

Senior appointees

Among the senior appointees are Mary Joy F. Fantilaga, the mayor’s spokesperson, and former Iloilo City Mayor Jose S. Espinosa III. Both are listed as EA V, with a proposed annual compensation of PHP 1.23 million each.

Espinosa served as city mayor from 2017 to 2019.

The two other EA V positions remain vacant.

Several EA IVs are assigned to specialized offices and programs.

These include Rudiver R. Jungco Sr., who heads the City Sports and Development Office; Fernando Jose G. Rico, who oversees Barangay Affairs; and Eleanor D. Gregorio, who handles Senior Citizens and Persons with Disabilities Affairs.

Other EA IV appointees include Jose Efrain G. Treñas III, Mark Ryan C. Acap, Love Joy G. Hosenilla, and Victor E. Gelvezon.

Acap heads the Iloilo City Atipan Center, while Hosenilla leads Task Force ASIS.

The proposed annual compensation for EA IV positions ranges from PHP 981,552 to PHP 1,009,812, depending on salary grade and step.

EA III positions are held by retired police Col. Leo F. Puertollano and former city councilors Ely A. Estante Jr. and Candice Magdalane A. Tupas, among others.

Estante supervises the city’s markets and slaughterhouses, while Tupas leads medical tourism initiatives.

At the EA II level, Armando A. Dayrit, a former Department of Environment and Natural Resources officer, manages the city’s tree-growing program.

Nestor Canong heads the Task Force on Moral and Values Formation.

Other EA II appointees include former population officer Mary Ann A. Ramos, former city assessor Nelson E. Parreño, and Rammy J. Guintabano.

Vacancies and council approval

The proposed budget lists Jsrah P. Malones, Cyril S. Octavio, and Rex R. Jalbuena among the EA I appointees.

Jalbuena took over the post previously held by Hector A. Alejano.

Four EA I positions remain vacant.

The proposed 2027 budget remains subject to deliberation and approval by the Iloilo City Council.