Team DailyPedia
Iloilo City has secured a place in the Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PCCI) Hall of Fame after winning its third Most Business-Friendly Local Government Unit (LGU) award in four years, reinforcing its reputation as a growing destination for business and investment.
Mayor Raisa Treñas received the recognition under the highly urbanized city category, or City Level 1B, during the awarding ceremony at the Manila Hotel.
Photo caption: Iloilo City Mayor Raisa Treñas receives the Most Business-Friendly Local Government Unit (LGU) award from the Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PCCI).
The latest victory follows Iloilo City’s previous wins in 2023 and 2025, making it one of only five LGUs to earn the Hall of Fame distinction alongside Bataan, Quezon City, Tanay in Rizal, and Tagbilaran City.
Treñas dedicates recognition to Ilonggo entrepreneurs
Treñas credited the achievement to the collective efforts of local businesses, investors, workers, micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs), and organizations contributing to Iloilo City’s economic development.
“Thank you PCCI for this honor. This award belongs to every Ilonggo entrepreneur, MSME, investor, worker, and partner who continues to believe in Iloilo,” she wrote on Facebook.
The mayor emphasized that supporting entrepreneurs, particularly small business owners, remains a personal priority.
“This award is especially close to my heart because supporting businesses, particularly our MSMEs, has always been personal to me. I know what it is like to start and run a small business, its challenges, the risks, and the determination it takes to keep going,” she added.
Treñas said her administration is working to strengthen and institutionalize programs that make it easier for entrepreneurs to establish and expand their businesses.
Among the initiatives are the proposed Nano Enterprise Incentives Ordinance, the institutionalization of the Negosyo Development Academy, the Nano Food Truck Ordinance, and startup development programs.
These measures aim to provide additional support for smaller enterprises while encouraging innovation, investment, and job creation.
“We will continue creating and strengthening programs that help our MSMEs and entrepreneurs start, grow, innovate, and create more opportunities for our people,” Treñas assured.
She ended her message with a declaration of the city’s commitment to economic development: “Padayon kita. Iloilo City means business.”
Iloilo City showcases development initiatives internationally
Beyond its latest business-friendly recognition, Iloilo City has also been sharing its urban development and resilience initiatives with international leaders.
Treñas recently participated in the 10th World Cities Summit in Singapore, joining the Mayors Forum and discussions on sustainable urban development, including the “Re-thinking Urban Energy Transition” plenary.
The summit provided opportunities for city leaders to exchange strategies for addressing urban challenges, strengthening resilience, and preparing communities for future demands.
For Treñas, the experience reinforced the importance of translating policies into improvements that residents can experience.
She described the summit as a “meaningful reminder that beyond policies and plans, what truly matters is how we turn these into real improvements in the daily lives of our communities.”
Disaster resilience efforts gain international attention
Treñas also represented the Philippines at the International Disaster Resilience Leaders Forum (IDRLF) 2026, held in Incheon, South Korea, from September 7 to 8.
As the only Filipino local chief executive participating in the forum, she presented Iloilo City’s approach to disaster preparedness through its Iloilo City Action and Resilience (ICARe) Centers.
During the City Networking Event, she joined representatives from Bangladesh, India, Indonesia, South Korea, and Thailand in sharing disaster risk reduction practices.
The mayor highlighted Iloilo City’s use of partnerships, capacity-building strategies, and technology to strengthen community preparedness.
The city currently operates nine ICARe facilities, which have developed beyond emergency response centers into community resilience learning hubs.
These facilities bring together government agencies, residents, private-sector partners, and other stakeholders to improve disaster preparedness, coordinate planning, and strengthen local response capabilities.
For Iloilo City, the PCCI Hall of Fame recognition represents another milestone in its efforts to build a business-friendly, resilient, and sustainable urban economy.
