ILOILO City – This year, this southern city has placed itself anew on the global map for other local government units (LGUs) to benchmark and emulate.
For Iloilo City’s Mayor Jerry P. Treñas, beyond the multiple awards and recognitions the city reaped this 2023, however, is a far more important accomplishment – the Ilonggos’ deep sense of pride for the city.
“Our big accomplishment is that we were able to cultivate a sense of pride among the Ilonggos, from the street sweepers to taxi and jeepney drivers, and everyone. I believe this is the result of the awards and citations we received, the latest of which is our recognition as Creative City of Gastronomy by UNESCO (United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization) Creative Cities Network, making us the first city from the Philippines to be designated as such,” Treñas said.
Iloilo City’s designation highlights the rich culinary heritage and vibrant food culture of the Ilonggos, offering an opportunity for the city to further boost its tourism and cultural sectors.
Along with this international achievement are more recognitions and awards such as the Creative-Friendly Destination from the Creative Tourism Network, Lungsod Lunsad Award from Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), and Best Book on Food in the 2023 National Book Awards for the publication “Flavors of Iloilo.”
“Ang sense of pride naton kakusog gid, and it is not easy to have the sense of pride nga ang mga residents naton may mabatyag gid nga bugal para sa aton nga syudad. We can get all the awards, but if it does not translate into a sense of pride sa mga Ilonggo, daw kulang,” the city mayor added.
This year, Treñas himself was able to showcase Iloilo City to the world through two prestigious international events — the Executive Board Meeting of CityNet in South Korea in October where he was elected as member of the Executive Committee; and the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) forum in Vienna, Austria in September where he served as panelist.
As an offshoot of the South Korea event, Iloilo City will be hosting the 44th CityNet Executive Committee (ExeCom) meeting slated on Oct. 23 to 25 next year.
At the national level, Iloilo City is the country’s Top 4 Overall Most Competitive Highly Urbanized City (HUC) and Top 1 outside the National Capital Region (NCR) surpassing big cities like Muntinlupa, Davao, Cagayan de Oro, Makati, Pasig, and Valenzuela.
The Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PCCI) also hailed Iloilo City as the 2023 Most Business-Friendly Local Government Unit under City Level 1B (Provincial HUCs) category.
Iloilo City has also been recognized as one of the Most Bicycle-Friendly Cities in the Philippines for 2023 and awarded as Gold Awardee by the Mobility Awards for the third time.
Being a two-time Bike Lane awardee of the Department of Transportation, the city was also chosen to host the National Bike Day Awards and Recognition from Nov. 24 to 26.
Furthermore, the City of Love was cited as finalist for the prestigious Galing Pook Award this year for Iloilo City Sports Academy (ICSA): A Grassroots Sports Program for Ilonggo Youth.
Galing Pook gives recognition to the best and most innovative local governance programs that exemplify citizens’ participation, and deliver positive results and impact.
Iloilo City was also awarded by the DTI as the Most Competitive and Most Improved HUC in Western Visayas – back-to-back wins for the city after being conferred with the same recognition last year.
The Philippine Red Cross further awarded the Iloilo City Government the Recognition of Excellence for having consistently ranked No. 1 nationwide for the years 2020, 2021, and 2023 in blood collection. The Office of Councilor Alan Zaldivar was also awarded the Diploma of Service and 2nd Top Performing Blood Service Partner for 2022 for the “Dugong Ilonggo Sugpon sa Kabuhi Mo” series of life-saving activities.
Iloilo City was also cited as Most Progressive Low Carbon Transport City as well as awarded for having the Best Action Plan to Support the Pilot City REAP (Re-entry Action Planning), Best Social Media Marketing Plan, and Highest Posttest Scores.
Given during the culminating program of the Capacity Building of National Government Agencies and Local Government Units on Low Carbon Transport Project (CaB-LCT), this southern city bested other low carbon transport pilot cities namely Baguio, Pasig and Sta. Rosa, Laguna.
INDIVIDUAL, CITY HALL OFFICES AWARDS AND CITATIONS
Mayor Treñas led the winners from the Iloilo City Government during the Honor Awards Program (HAP) 2023 Search for Outstanding Government Workers of the Civil Service Commission Region 6.
Treñas won the Regional Presidential Lingkod Bayan Award for outstanding work performance and contributions with national impact. He was credited for his W.H.E.E.L.S. (Welfare, Health and Sanitation, Education, Environmental Management, Livelihood, and Sustainability) program for inclusive development.
City Environment and Natural Resources Office head, Engr. Neil Ravena, won the Dangal ng Bayan Award for “performance of extraordinary act or public service” and consistent demonstration of exemplary ethical behavior; while the City Health Office-Calumpang Birthing Center won the PAGASA Award and named as national semifinalist for superior work performance and outstanding contributions benefiting an office, agency, community, or region.
Meantime, the city mayor has consistently topped the independent and non-commissioned “Boses ng Bayan” performance survey for city mayors in Western Visayas.
In the Sept. 20 to 30, 2023 performance survey conducted by RP-Mission and Development Foundation Inc. (RPMD), Treñas sustained his No. 1 spot as “Top Performing City Mayor” in the region after garnering an outstanding 93.0 percent rating.
Iloilo City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (CDRRMO) head Donna P. Magno was also named as one of 20 finalists for the Philippine Resilience Awards for Women 2023 for showing an exemplary performance in a progressive effort to make Iloilo City a climate- and disaster-resilient metropolis.
For the third time since 2021, Iloilo City has once again been conferred with the highest award for disaster risk reduction and management for 2023 by the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) during its 23rd Gawad Kalasag Seal for DRRM councils and offices.
For receiving the highest rating of “Beyond Compliant,” Iloilo City exceeded the standards for the establishment and functionality of local DRRM councils and offices, and has best practices that are beyond the regular DRRM programs.
Meanwhile, the city’s renowned Iloilo Dinagyang Festival received Pearl Award this year after being adjudged as grand winner for Best Cultural Festival (City Category) by the Association of Tourism Officers of the Philippines (ATOP).
Iloilo City was also declared by the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) as the grand winner of Best Public Employment Service Office (PESO) for HUC category in Western Visayas and in the whole Philippines.
It also bagged the Unique Employment Program award for its Uswag Negosyo Economic Boost to Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs).
Likewise, the Iloilo City Public Information Office (PIO) reaped awards during the 2023 Western Visayas Information Officers’ Year-end Conference and Awards.
The city PIO won the Best Performing Information Office, Best Performing Public Information Officer (Hall of Fame) for PIO head Ma. Lucy M. Sinay, Best Facebook Page, and second placer for Best Newsletter for Kauswagan, the city’s official publication.
The Iloilo City Government and the City Health Office also bagged a total of 10 regional health awards given by the Department of Health (DOH) Center for Health Development Region 6 under different categories, for exemplary performance and outstanding contributions in achieving health program benchmarks and core objectives.
These include the recognition for achieving 2.56 percent donation rate of successful non-remunerated blood donors; and for being a top performing LGU in reaching the target of 85 percent for Tuberculosis Treatment Coverage Rate for 2022, among others.
The Iloilo City Molecular Laboratory has also been hailed by the DOH as one of the Top 10 best-performing organizations with Exemplary Best Practices at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic.
The City Assessor’s and Treasurer’s offices also garnered several awards and citations from Department of Finance Bureau of Local Government Finance 6 and Regional Association of Treasurers and Assessors in Region 6 this year, for having been ranked as Top 1 among all the HUCs in Region 6 based on the Business Tax and Other Taxes Collection Efficiency; Highest Locally Sourced Revenue in Fees and Charges, in Real Property Tax, and in Economic Enterprise.
Mayor Treñas said all these overwhelming recognitions serve as inspiration and a significant stride towards achieving the city’s goal to be one of the Top 3 Most Liveable, Sustainable and Resilient HUCs in the Philippines by 2028.
“I congratulate the departments and offices that worked so hard to attain these awards. For those that are not yet outstanding, there is still time for you to show us that you can perform better,” he added.
SUSTAINABILITY
Iloilo City has gone a long way, and for Treñas, there is a need to sustain the efforts.
“We really need to make sure everything that we do is sustained. Because if it is sustained, can you imagine what Iloilo will be in 10 years. Kadaku na gid sang makambyo sa landscape sang Iloilo City,” he said.
The city mayor cited the importance of a very close working relationship of the executive to the city council as one of the measures to ensure sustainability.
“Some of the ideas or programs emanate from our city council while others from the executive, but if the whole team is working as one, things are easier. If we unite and work together, we go on continuously for more developments,” he added.
The city mayor further acknowledged the strong public-private partnership – a big factor for the city’s continuous progress.
“Makita ta nga kon para sa kaayuhan gali, mahapos magbulig ang mga Ilonggo kag nalipay gid ako,” Treñas expressed./PN
