Iloilo City crown jewel of Western Visayas
Iloilo City is known for its rich culture and welcoming ambiance. But the city’s real treasures are its people, its progressive economy, and its promise to become one of the best sustainable and livable cities in the country. Dubbed as the economic center of Western Visayas region, the city has always been one of the top development thrusts in the province of Iloilo and in the whole of Visayas.
Business and investment
Iloilo City is a thriving business hub in Western Visayas region. It is consistently among the top 10 highly urbanized cities in the Cities and Municipalities Competitiveness Index of the Department of Trade and Industry. In 2023, the city ranked fourth in the list.
In September 2023, the city was named one of the next best investment destinations by Business Process Outsourcing (BPO) industry players. According to experts, Iloilo City stands out in terms of Information Technology–Business Process Management because the city is abundant in talent and has among the most cost-efficient business environment and infrastructure systems in place.
The city government had encouraged real estate developers to expand investment to house more BPO companies. They have also laid plans to position Iloilo City as a MICE (Meetings, Incentives, Conferences and Exhibitions) destination to bring in tourists.
In October 2023, Iloilo City was also picked as one of the nine partner local government units in the country for the United States Agency for International Development (USAID)’s five-year project designed to enhance local economic development and improve end-to-end process and business and construction permitting processes in the city.
USAID’s Urban Connect Project will facilitate enterprise growth, streamline the business permit system, reinforce public financial management, promote e-governance transition, and enhance cooperation between neighboring cities.
In December 2023, the final leg of the Philippine Economic Briefing (PEB) for the year was held in Iloilo City. According to the Department of Finance, Iloilo City was picked to host the end of the PEB as it is the fastest-growing region in the Philippines and would reflect the government’s strategies to achieve inclusive and sustainable economic transformation.
PEBs serve as a platform for key economic officials to brief local and international business and financial communities on the latest developments concerning the country’s economic performance, investment opportunities, and the Marcos administration’s development plan.
Health
Iloilo City has invested significantly in people’s health and prioritized projects that strengthen its public sector support. The city government has pushed its “WHEELS” initiative for sustainable development, referring to the city’s “welfare, health, education, environment, livelihood and sustainability” programs.
At the height of Covid-19 pandemic, Iloilo City was the first city outside Metro Manila to establish a molecular laboratory, which charged a fraction of the amount for tests for asymptomatic patients.
The city government has also prioritized the building of dialysis and world-class daycare centers.
Safety and community development
Building various infrastructure and establishing systems focused on local governance have helped Iloilo City function better as a highly urbanized city.
One of the local government’s major projects is the Iloilo City Action and Response (ICARE) command center built for security, traffic, and emergency response. It is a five-story facility inside the 375-square meter area of the Iloilo City Center in Mandurriao district.
The ICARE houses under one roof all emergency responders of the city including the City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (CDRRMO), Public Safety and Transportation Management Office (PSTMO), and the offices of the Philippine National Police (PNP) and the Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP).
According to the local city police, as of September 2023, Iloilo City has a 1:472 police-to-population ratio during nighttime. The standard ratio is 1:500. The city government is pushing to add more police stations in the coming years.
Another ongoing project of the city meant to improve community relations involves seven multi-purpose buildings (MPBs) adopted by the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) Iloilo City District Engineering Office for education, healthcare and disaster resilience purposes. The buildings, strategically located across the city of Iloilo depending on what each community needs, were built to be versatile spaces for fostering holistic development in communities.
Tourism
What captivates visitors to Iloilo City are more than just the scenic views. The rich culture and heritage of the province are on full display, beginning with signature local dishes such as La Paz Batchoy, Pancit Molo, local favorites like K.B.L. (Kadyos, Baboy, at Langka), and the charcoal-roasted native chicken Darag.
In October 2023, Iloilo City, along with 54 other cities around the world, were listed in the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) Creative Cities Network (UCCN). Iloilo City was heralded as a gastronomic haven for both Filipinos and international visitors, and its designation paid tribute to Iloilo’s rich culinary heritage.
Sources: Inquirer Archives, dof.gov.ph, tourism.gov.ph, ppp.gov.ph, cmci.dti.gov.ph, Philippine Information Agency, Philippine News Agency
