“Malayo pa, pero malayo na.”
With these words, Mayor Raisa Treñas, Iloilo City’s first elected woman mayor, summed up her first 100 days in office — a period she described as one of renewed compassion, unity, and purposeful leadership.
Delivering her State of the City Address (SOCA) before members of the Sangguniang Panlungsod, barangay officials, private sector partners, and civic leaders, Treñas said her administration’s “Rise to Action” framework embodies a kind of governance that puts every Ilonggo family at the center of public service.
“Public service is both a privilege and a responsibility. Daku nga dungog nga makaupod ko kamo sa sini nga pagpanglakaton,” Treñas said, drawing warm applause from the crowd.
The mayor pledged to build on the legacy of former Mayor Jerry Treñas and former Senator Franklin Drilon, whose leadership helped lay the groundwork for the city’s growth. She called this new phase “the next chapter of the Iloilo Miracle” — one anchored on integrity, inclusivity, and collective progress.
Within her first 100 days, Treñas launched 42 programs and initiatives under the Rise to Action agenda, which stands on three major pillars: Rising Health and Social Services, Rising Economy, and Rising Livability. These represent the administration’s A.C.T.I.O.N. agenda — Access to education and social services, Comprehensive health and wellness, Trabaho at Negosyo, Immersive tourism and culture, Orderly and safe communities, and Nature-based sustainability.
In her address, Treñas reaffirmed her priorities: to strengthen healthcare and social protection, expand employment and livelihood opportunities, and build livable, resilient communities guided by sustainability and civic participation. She also urged local leaders, the private sector, and especially the youth to take part in what she called “the shared responsibility of nation-building at the city level.”
“We rise not just for ourselves, but for every Ilonggo who dreams of a better life,” she said. “This is the spirit of compassionate governance — rising together, acting together, and growing together.”
As Iloilo City continues its transformation into a progressive and resilient metropolis, Treñas called on Ilonggos to remain united in turning aspirations into lasting achievements.
“Malayo pa, pero malayo na,” she repeated in closing — a quiet but firm reminder that while the journey continues, Iloilo City is steadily moving forward toward inclusive, people-powered progress.IMT
