Naga City has become the current darling of progressive local governance not because it suddenly discovered reform, but because it has managed to make reform look both institutional and alive. Many Philippine cities can point to projects, awards, or slogans. Naga can point to something harder to build: a durable political identity
April 18, 2026
A localized clearing operation involving ambulant vendors – “bolanteros”- in Iloilo City has quickly grown into a much larger issue. What began as a routine attempt to regulate street activity escalated into confrontation, went viral, drew in multiple public officials, and is now being framed in broader political and even ideological terms.
April 17, 2026
Cities are not simple institutions. They are large, interconnected systems where land, housing, transport, water, drainage, public order, investment, and service delivery all interact. Because of this, running a city well is not simply a matter of being active or visible. It is a matter of discipline: discipline in roles, discipline in
April 16, 2026
Iloilo City’s growth slowdown is now measurable, explainable, and increasingly difficult to dismiss as a normal post-pandemic normalization. Here are the numbers: Growth decelerated from 10.4 percent in 2022–2023 to 7.1 percent in 2023–2024. That alone would have suggested a transition to a more sustainable expansion phase. But what has followed is
March 30, 2026
By Antonio Calleja Why waste management is about more than just the landfill With the Calajunan landfill nearing closure, most people are asking a simple question: where will the garbage go next? It is a fair concern. A city cannot function without a place to dispose of its waste. But focusing only on the next
March 4, 2026
Iloilo City, like many fast-growing urban centers in the country, is confronting a familiar and emotionally charged problem: the visible presence of stray dogs — or mga layaw nga ido (literally, “free-roaming dogs”) in the local language — on our streets. Public frustration is rising, particularly around traffic safety and bite incidents.
March 3, 2026
When traffic congestion worsens, the instinct is to look upward. Blame the national agencies. Blame vehicle registrations. Blame the Land Transportation Office. Blame Manila. But if we are serious about solving congestion in Iloilo City, we need clarity on a simple question: Who actually owns the problem? The answer is less dramatic
March 2, 2026
Iloilo’s traffic is not the problem. How it’s managed is. That sounds harsh, I know. But go stand on any major corridor around 5:30 p.m. and just watch. A four-lane road quietly turns into three because vehicles are parked along the curb. PUVs stop wherever it suits the driver, not where it
February 28, 2026
In urban governance, credibility is built not only on what policies are pursued but on how clearly and consistently they are explained. In recent months, Iloilo City’s fiscal conversation — particularly around the real property tax (RPT) adjustment, the proposed PHP 300 million borrowing for school infrastructure, and recent explanations linking local
February 27, 2026
Iloilo City continues to grow. But the latest data suggest that the pace of expansion is beginning to moderate — and the reasons behind that shift deserve careful, data-driven attention. Recent figures from the Local Economic Development and Investment Promotion (LEDIP) Office show that business registrations and capitalization are still trending upward,
February 26, 2026
By any surface reading, Iloilo City should not be facing an explosion in informal settlements. Population growth has been modest — about 0.88% annually from 2020 to 2024. Poverty is low and declining. The local economy has been one of the stronger performers in Western Visayas. On paper, this is a city
February 25, 2026
By Antonio Calleja Iloilo does not have a traffic problem. It has a management problem. That may sound harsh. But watch what happens on any major corridor at 5:30 p.m. A four-lane road quietly becomes three because vehicles are parked along the curb. Public utility vehicles stop wherever it is convenient, not wherever it is
February 24, 2026