Iloilo City opens outdoor library to revive reading culture
ILOILO CITY—The local government here has launched its first outdoor library at Plaza Libertad on June 23, signaling a renewed campaign to restore reading habits among the city’s youth amid growing concerns over literacy and comprehension skills.
Mayor Jerry Treñas led the launch by reading a story to children from various daycare centers and briefly interacting with them in a symbolic gesture of the city’s commitment to early literacy.
Treñas is set to step down on Monday and hand the reins of the city to his daughter, Raina, who won in the mayoral race in the elections last May.
The initiative comes in response to shifting habits among children, with reading often displaced by the growing influence of digital entertainment, malls and screen-based distractions.
City officials emphasized that while these developments are part of modern life, there is an urgent need to revive interest in books and improve comprehension.
The initiative was partly inspired by a Senate report highlighting the poor reading performance of junior and senior high school students across the country.
“They can read, but they can’t understand what they are reading,” Treñas said, pointing to a deeper problem beyond access to materials.
He added that while the city continues to provide support to schools and train teachers, children are still struggling to make sense of what they read.
Community libraries
Treñas, who has been donating his personal collection of books to the project, underscored the importance of encouraging people to read again.
“I want people to continue reading because our education system is in a bad state,” he said.
“Iloilo City supports initiatives like this. It may look small, but it’s really helpful to bring back the love for reading,” the mayor added.
While efforts to train teachers and prepare schools continue in collaboration with organizations like the Synergeia Foundation, the city has recognized the need to address foundational gaps in literacy, particularly among younger learners who struggle with comprehension.
“But you know, we really have to do more. Iloilo is doing its share. We already have seven community libraries. We’re now building daycare centers with libraries on the second floor so people in the community can read. Hopefully, this continues because we need strong interventions. Otherwise, we risk falling behind,” Treñas said.
The outdoor library, which will operate on weekdays, is expected to serve as a pilot site with plans to establish similar libraries in other district plazas.
It offers a curated range of reading materials accessible to all age groups.
Complementing the outdoor facility are seven barangay libraries already in place across the city.
Each features a day-care center on the ground floor and a reading area above, aimed at nurturing a culture of learning from an early age within communities.
