Mayor Raisa Treñas has called for an immediate review of school curricula and training programs in Iloilo City to address growing job mismatch and equip graduates with industry-ready skills.
Speaking at the Iloilo Talent and Education Conference 2026 on Thursday, Oct. 29, Treñas emphasized the urgent need to bridge the gap between academic output and corporate demands.
The mayor cited instances of individuals working outside their fields of specialization, such as hospitality management graduates employed as accounting clerks, noting that such disparities hinder long-term career growth.
“My take on that is there should be no job mismatch. How can you grow in a place if it’s not even in your field?” Treñas said.
The mayor also pointed out that several Business Process Outsourcing (BPO) firms continue to struggle with filling Tier 3 supervisory and technical roles.
Treñas said that qualified personnel are crucial for managing and upskilling entry-level and mid-tier employees.
“We really need to review our curricula, review our programs to align with the needs of our workforce and the businesses,” she added.
The forum gathered leaders from the academe, the business community, industry groups, and government agencies to tackle local skills shortages and strengthen the pipeline between education and employment.IMT
