BY GEROME DALIPE IV
ILOILO City – Mayor Jerry P. Treñas has expressed his gratitude for the early approval of the city government’s 2025 budget, amounting to P4.215 billion.
In his statement, Treñas described the City Council’s decision as a “landmark”, reflecting the strong dedication and collaboration among the council members and stakeholders in prioritizing the welfare of the city’s residents.
“This milestone demonstrates our shared commitment to addressing the needs of our beloved Ilonggos,” he added.
The early approval of the budget is expected to enable the city government to implement programs and services efficiently in the coming year.
Treñas also pointed out the significance of the early approval of Iloilo City’s P4.215-billion budget for 2025, emphasizing its role in ensuring timely delivery of public services.
“With this early approval, we can now proceed with early procurement processes, ensuring that projects and programs slated for 2025 can commence on time. This proactive approach allows us to avoid delays, enhance efficiency, and maximize the impact of government spending for the benefit of our constituents,” Treñas said.
In addition, the mayor expressed his gratitude to everyone involved in the budget preparation and approval, calling it a testament to the city’s commitment to progress.
“This milestone reflects our shared dedication to the continuous progress of Iloilo City. Nagapati gid ako nga kon naga-isa lang kita tanan, we will uphold excellence in governance and ensure that every peso is spent to uplift the lives of our people. Padayon kita nga magbuligay para sa kaUSWAGan sang Siyudad,” he concluded.
During their session on Wednesday, the Iloilo City Council unanimously approved the 2025 budget ordinance following the presentation of a committee report by Councilor Rex Marcus Sarabia, chairperson of the Appropriations Committee.
In his report, Councilor Sarabia highlighted the city’s optimistic revenue projections, particularly from the Real Property Tax (RPT) and the National Tax Allotment (NTA).
These revenue increases, he said, are a testament to Iloilo City’s growing economic activity and enhanced fiscal capacity, which will provide the necessary support for the ₱4.215-billion budget for 2025.
“The expected increase in revenues will help fund the city’s development plans and ensure its continued progress,” Sarabia noted, emphasizing the alignment of the budget with the city’s economic growth trajectory.
Sarabia also underscored the impressive growth in Iloilo City’s revenue sources during his report on the 2025 budget ordinance.
He revealed that Real Property Tax (RPT) collections for the city have surged by an extraordinary 300%, with 2025 projections reaching P1,056,520,748.
This marks a P94,520,748 increase — or 14.83% growth — compared to the P962,000,000 collected in 2024.
Sarabia attributed the increase in the National Tax Allotment (NTA) to higher national revenue collections in 2022, which serve as the basis for the 2025 allotment. Iloilo City’s NTA is set to rise sharply, from P1,453,190,044 in 2024 to P1,714,764,252 in 2025 — an impressive P261,574,208 increase.
The combined growth in RPT and NTA, Sarabia noted, provides Iloilo City with substantial resources to finance priority programs and infrastructure projects.
“These increases ensure the sustainability of the city’s development initiatives and reflect enhanced fiscal support from both local and national levels,” he said.
He emphasized that this growth reflects the recovery of economic activity in the Philippines following the subsidence of the COVID-19 pandemic’s effects in 2022.
The additional P261.57 million in NTA provides Iloilo City with greater fiscal capacity to implement priority initiatives, particularly in infrastructure, health, and education, the councilor added.
He said the increased NTA for Iloilo City provides crucial fiscal support, especially in light of the challenges in local revenue generation, such as the reduced growth in RPT.
However, the city’s strong performance in Business Tax collection demonstrates resilience and adaptability in maintaining revenue streams.
In the 2025 executive budget, the City Budget Office reported that 57.43 percent of the city’s revenue is projected to come from local sources, with the remaining 42.57 percent derived from external sources, including a 17.79 percent increase in the NTA share.
Among local sources, tax revenues remain the primary contributor, with an estimated growth of 12.89 percent.
These figures underline the city government’s reduced dependence on the NTA compared to other LGUs, reflecting Iloilo City’s robust local revenue generation and sound fiscal management.
The P4.215-billion budget for 2025 is centered around the RISE program, which serves as the blueprint for Iloilo City’s future development.
The RISE program focuses on four key pillars: Responsive Governance, Investment in People, Sustainable Growth, and Excellence.
In addition, the RISE program represents the Treñas’ administration’s vision for Iloilo City’s continued growth and development, which aims to impact on the city’s governance, economy, and overall quality of life for its residents./PN
