ILOILO City – Former Vice President and Naga City mayoralty candidate Leni Robredo, accompanied by Naga City councilors and department heads, visited Iloilo City on Wednesday, March 5, to learn from the city’s best practices and governance initiatives.
Mayor Jerry Treñas welcomed Robredo and her team, affirming Iloilo City’s desire to knowledge-sharing with other local government units (LGUs).
“Iloilo City is honored to host former Vice President Leni Robredo and her delegation. Just as I once visited Naga City to study their urban planning and transport policies, it is great to see other LGUs now looking to Iloilo for inspiration,” Treñas said.
The first time he became Iloilo City mayor back in the early 2000s, Treñas traveled to Naga to observe its housing programs and public transport policies, which later influenced Iloilo’s urban development strategies.
He recalled collaborating with Robredo’s husband, Naga’s late Mayor Jesse Robredo, along with former San Fernando City (La Union) Mayor Mary Jane C. Ortega and former Marikina City Mayor Marides Fernando, in advancing governance reforms.
Iloilo City has since become a benchmark for LGUs aiming to enhance their governance models. Under Treñas’ leadership, nearly 50 LGUs from various provinces, including Masbate, Albay, Koronadal City, Pampanga, Zamboanga, and Quezon City, have visited to study its programs.
Among Iloilo’s key projects are the Iloilo City Nutrition Center, Iloilo City Action and Resilience (ICARE) centers, dialysis centers, legislative infrastructure, and the revitalization of public plazas and markets.
The city has also received multiple awards for excellence in governance, environmental management, and economic development.
Treñas acknowledged Robredo’s support during the COVID-19 pandemic, citing her donation of P7 million worth of test kits and an RT-PCR machine to strengthen Iloilo’s response efforts.
“As leaders, we all share the same goal — creating better communities for our people. Visits like these allow us to exchange ideas and build on each other’s successes,” Treñas added.
Meanwhile, former senators Bam Aquino and Francis Pangilinan are set to visit Iloilo City for a volunteer campaign event. Aquino announced on Facebook that the Volunteer Campaign Kick-Off will take place on March 6 at 5 p.m. at the Iloilo Sports Complex Covered Gym.
The event will also feature Robredo, Sen. Risa Hontiveros, and former senator Franklin Drilon./PN
