For many Ilonggos, a haircut, manicure, or relaxing massage may seem like a small luxury. But for thousands of residents, these simple services have become a source of confidence, dignity, and care through the Iloilo City Government’s Usgwaps Ta! program.
In Mayor Raisa S. Treñas’ first year in office, from June 2026 to July 2026, the initiative reached 10,321 beneficiaries, bringing free grooming and wellness services directly to communities while also creating employment opportunities for nine job-hire barbers and six job-hire therapists.
Usgwaps Ta! embodies the belief that personal care should be accessible to everyone, regardless of financial circumstance.
Guided by the tagline “Kaanyag sang Tanan, Dignidad para sa Tanan” (“Beauty for All, Dignity for All”), the program offers free haircuts, manicures, pedicures, and massage services to underserved Ilonggos.
To make the services more accessible, the city conducts barangay-based caravans, together bringing volunteer and professional groomers closer to neighborhoods across Iloilo City.
The program has also expanded to public spaces, including the Iloilo Central and Terminal Markets, wherein vendors, shoppers, mothers, and other market-goers enjoy free grooming and wellness services without leaving their workplaces or daily routines.
Usgwaps Ta! is one of the initiatives under the Iloilo City Government’s RISE-to-ACTION Framework.
Led by the Office of the LGBTQ+ Affairs–Iloilo City in partnership with the Public Employment Service Office (PESO), the program demonstrates the city’s commitment to inclusive, compassionate, and people-centered governance—one haircut, one massage, and one act of care at a time.
