ILOILO City – A man of action and vision – this sums up the overall assessment of the business community, public servants and ordinary Ilonggos on the performance of Mayor Jerry Treñas as local chief executive.
Now serving his second term, Treñas is set to deliver today his State of the City Address (SOCA).
A few days before his annual executive report, Panay News gathered some pre-SOCA assessment on the mayor’s performance.
For SM Supermalls president Steven T. Tan, Treñas is a man of action who is transforming Iloilo City into a progressive and sustainable metro good for both business and leisure.
Tan said SM is proud to be a partner of the city government in projects that enhance the city’s landscape, promote tourism and develop local industries.
“SM has been in Iloilo City since 1978 and it’s been progressively better year after year. As you can see, we have expanded – from our SM Delgado to SM Jaro. And SM City Iloilo itself has become a township with Park Inn, Southpoint and Northwing,” said Tan.
He added: “Our SMDC Towers are being built nearby and renovations inside our mall just keep going to match the vibrancy and growing demands of the city.”
MORE Electric and Power Corporation (MORE Power) president Roel Castro describes Treñas’ overall performance as excellent.
He said Treñas is a visionary leader and has very clear strategies on how to bring Iloilo City to the next level.
“His leadership style is based on firm core values. He doesn’t play politics to please everyone. That’s a mark of a genuine leader whose only objective is to serve the people,” Castro said.
Castro also admired how everybody is pulling the same cart in the same direction for Iloilo City – the business sector, civic groups and the government.
With everyone sharing the same vision of the city mayor, Castro said MORE Power is also doing its best as the city’s sole power distributor. A reliable and efficient electricity service will help propel development, he explained.
Thus, MORE Power makes sure Iloilo City has adequate power supply, robust electricity distribution facilities, excellent customer service, responsive customer care, and justly priced rates, said Castro.
Terence Uygongco, chairman of the Iloilo Local Economic Development Foundation (ILEDF), said the business sector is satisfied with Treñas’ performance. This is evidenced, he said, by the increasing business activities as well as robust creation of cultural and recreational facilities that attract people and fuel the local economy.
“We also commend the city mayor for championing the renovation of all plazas for the people of Iloilo City. Multiple PPP (public-private partnership) projects are testaments to the confidence of investors in the city government,” added Uygongco, who is also the president of the Filipino-Chinese Chamber of Commerce of Iloilo, Inc. (FCCCII) and a trustee of the Iloilo Business Club.
With the city having a high gross domestic product, low unemployment rate coupled with good investment climate (local and foreign investments), Uygongco believes the gains achieved by the city under Treñas will be sustained and even surpassed.
For his part, Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry-Iloilo Chapter (PCCI-Iloilo) president, Engr. Fulbert Woo, praised the Treñas administration for always having an open communication with the private sector. He believes the good relationship of the city government with the business community is very essential for the growth of the city.
Treñas is a recent regional winner of the Civil Service Commission’s (CSC) 2023 Presidential Lingkod Bayan Award for high-impact government service – his second for his two consecutive terms.
The Presidential Lingkod Bayan Award is conferred to individuals or groups with exceptional or extraordinary contributions that have nationwide impact.
Complementing Treñas’ CSC award is another citation – Top 1 best performing city mayor in Western Visayas, also for the second time, based on the RP-Mission and Development Foundation, Inc. (RPMD) job performance survey.
Treñas got a job performance rating of 86.7 percent to top the list of 12 local chief executives in RPMD’s survey conducted from June 25 to July 8, 2023. He also topped the March survey with an 82.9 percent rating.
Meanwhile, fellow public servant Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) regional executive director Livino Duran is all praises for Treñas and gave him a near-perfect score of 9 (with 10 as the highest).
Duran particularly cited Treñas’ pro-environment efforts. The regional director said Iloilo City is now gaining popularity as an environment-friendly city.
“We have the Urban Mangrove and Biodiversity Corridors. The Iloilo River Formula in terms of River and Easements Recovery and Rehabilitation – a model we want to replicate region-wide and beyond,” said Duran.
Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) OIC regional director Ermelinda P. Pollentes, meanwhile, congratulated Treñas for his steadfast leadership, dedication and determination in making Iloilo City not only a thriving urban center but also a shining example of resilience.
“It is an honor to witness the positive impact of his tireless work on the city and its people,” said Pollentes.
Fifty-nine-year old Erlinda Pamocino of Lapuz Norte district and a city hall employee since 1990 (and currently assigned at the Local Enterprise and Economic Office), said she is a witness as to how the city transformed under the leadership of the city mayor.
“Nagtinlo kag nag-improve ang mga markets. Kadaku sang gin improve sang bilog nga syudad,” she said.
Pamonico also said various programs and services of the city government have benefited Iloilo’s indigent.
Street vendor Mary Grace Pareja, 50, of Barangay Sto. Niño Sur, Arevalo district gave Treñas a perfect score of 100 “tungod daku gid bala ang pagbag-o sang syudad, labi na gid sa cleanliness (because the city has transformed a lot, especially in terms of cleanliness).”
She cited the beautification efforts of the city government such as the rehabilitation of public plazas and open public spaces, and infrastructure projects like the esplanade.
Pareja also thanked the Treñas administration for looking after the welfare of vendors like her.
She further expressed admiration to the city mayor for taking immediate action, especially if there are issues about corruption.
“Ang pagka-ano ko sa iya – kay nagapamati man ako sang balita – indi sya gusto sang corrupt so gina-aksyunan ya dayun,” she added.
Another city resident, Rene Da-anoy, a 61-year-old e-bike driver, appreciates the efforts of the Treñas administration especially in the renovation of district public markets.
“Nakita ko nga nag-mayo gid ang mga palengke. Te kun makay-o na, matinlo na gawa eh. Daw tanan gid nga palengke ginpakay-o niya,” said Da-anoy.
A resident of Barangay Luna, Jaro, Da-anoy added that while the performance of Treñas as a leader is admirable, he is hopeful that other issues and concerns the city is facing will be eventually addressed.
Another e-bike driver, 41- year-old Renemar Salting, likewise commended the beautification project of the city mayor.
“Ang iya pagpalakad sa tanan daw kahumok lang bala. Ang nagustuhan ko gid ang sa Diversion Road na da bala nga may mga tanum. Kanami kay naghatag pa gid kolor ang mga tanum kag bulak,” said Salting.
He added: “Wala ka na may makita nga basura galinupad. Katinlo na gid ya sang mga dalan.”
“Si mayor 99 percent iya performance. May mga gamay man siya nga palya kung kaisa pero daw intindihan man naton kay tawo man na siya, gakasala man,” Salting said./PN
