Iloilo City struggles to keep biz afloat in heritage zone

PRESERVING CULTURE Plans are under way to transform Calle Real, Iloilo City’s most storied avenue, into a cultural hub with a city-initiated heritage repainting project that hopes to lure back businesses that have since left this historic part of the city. —THE QUEEN CITY OF THE SOUTH FACEBOOK

ILOILO CITY—The local government here is embarking on a bold effort to breathe new life into the city’s old downtown area, particularly along historic Calle Real that hosts American colonial-era structures.

The initiative comes amid a wave of business shutdowns along the city’s main heritage strip.

Among them are Wewin’s Bakeshop and Socorro Drug, two long-standing establishments in the area. Socorro Drug will cease operations by July 15.

“These closures are a wake-up call. We need to act now to bring back the energy and activity in Calle Real,” Mayor Raisa Treñas said.

Night market

Calle Real, also known as JM Basa Street, is known for its American-era architectural features and has been declared a heritage zone since 2014.

To revitalize the area, the local government will repaint commercial buildings in the city proper’s heritage zone.

The repainting is expected to attract more foot traffic and boost heritage tourism.

Treñas said plans are also in motion to create a regular night market along Calle Real to further support local businesses.

“We’ve observed that people don’t really dine in Calle Real anymore, especially in the evening,” she said. “We hope that by improving the environment, we can attract more restaurants and cafés to open here.”

In preparation for the repainting, the City Engineer’s Office and City Architect’s Office have started assessing the total paintable area to estimate material requirements.

Treñas also called on volunteer engineers and architects to help with the technical evaluation.

The local government has tapped the National Commission for Culture and the Arts to help make Calle Real become a more viable commercial destination.

“This is a strategic effort to revive the local economy in Calle Real. A well-maintained and visually appealing environment draws not just tourists but also investors and entrepreneurs,” she said.

“This will make sure that our city proper area will bring in more tourists. That’s why we are planning programs that will breathe new life into this historic area,” Treñas added.