Team DailyPedia
The Iloilo City Government, led by Raisa Treñas, is intensifying efforts to preserve and protect the authenticity of La Paz Batchoy, one of the city’s most iconic culinary traditions.
According to Mayor Treñas, both local and foreign tourists can experience authentic Iloilo Batchoy at the redeveloped Iloilo Terminal Market and Iloilo Central Market.
Iloilo City Mayor Raisa Treñas and her team
She highlighted homegrown brands such as Popoy’s Batchoy, Tebanz La Paz Batchoy, and Inggo’s La Paz Batchoy for continuing to provide authentic batchoy experiences to visitors.
The initiative also supports the goal of SM Prime Holdings to help preserve Iloilo City’s rich food culture through the redevelopment of its public markets.
Recently, the redeveloped markets partnered with the National Commission for Culture and the Arts for the celebration of Filipino Food Month 2026, with the Iloilo Terminal Market serving as the venue for the kickoff event.
Aside from this, Mayor Treñas also launched the initiative “Namit Gid!: A Multi-Stakeholder Collaboration for Ilonggo Batchoy,” which aims to preserve the heritage, authenticity, and cultural identity of Iloilo Batchoy.
The Iloilo City Government is working together with University of the Philippines Visayas through its Center for West Visayan Studies and the UP Center for Integrative and Development Studies, alongside the Department of Trade and Industry and other stakeholders.
The collaboration brings together government agencies, academic institutions, cultural organizations, and industry groups to strengthen efforts to protect Iloilo Batchoy as a symbol of Ilonggo heritage.
“It is very important that we preserve and protect Batchoy as one of the strongest symbols of our Ilonggo identity and culinary heritage,” Treñas said.
Among the key topics discussed during the initiative was the proposed Geographical Indication and Certification Mark Strategy, which seeks to strengthen measures protecting and promoting authentic Iloilo Batchoy.
The initiative also plans to establish a core coordinating group to streamline collaboration among government offices, academe, cultural advocates, and local enterprises.
“The creation of a Core Group was also proposed together with a stronger partnership with stakeholders and academe to spread awareness and clarify their roles and contributions in this advocacy,” Treñas added.
Iloilo Batchoy
The mayor likewise encouraged stakeholders to continue working together in preserving the city’s culinary pride.
“Continue to work together to strengthen the pride of Ilonggos in our food, support local tourism and businesses, and ensure that the authentic Batchoy of Iloilo is preserved for future generations.”
The Iloilo City Government previously entered into a 25-year lease agreement with SM Prime Holdings, which invested around ₱3 billion to modernize the Iloilo Central Market and Iloilo Terminal Market.
The redevelopment transformed the facilities into cleaner, safer, and more efficient commercial hubs now housing around 2,000 stalls for vendors and consumers.
Currently, the Iloilo Central Public Market operates from 4:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m., while the Iloilo Terminal Public Market is open from 1:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m.
The redevelopment project also aligns with the city’s “My Heart Beats in Iloilo City” campaign, which aims to highlight Iloilo’s culture, heritage, and identity while strengthening the connection between the city and its people.
