Mayor cites initiatives to achieve SDGs of Iloilo City

ILOILO CITY – Mayor Jerry Treñas highlighted the accomplishments of this city towards achieving Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) as he delivered his State of the City Address (SOCA) on Monday.

"Our journey towards success is marked by strides we have taken to ensure that no one, no Ilonggo is left behind. All these efforts are anchored in our crucial role to localize the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, intertwined with our new strategic roadmap, 'RISE, Iloilo City,' a continuation of our WHEELS (welfare, health, education, environment, livelihood and sustainability) for inclusive development program," he said.

He reported that the poverty rate in this city declined to 6.8 percent in 2023 from 8.4 percent in the first half of 2021, a testament to the efforts of the local government to improve the lives of less fortunate residents.
The city government addressed poverty by working on targeted programs and job creation, which he committed to sustaining through the provision of jobs and the Uswag Negosyo Academy.

For its anti-hunger initiatives, the city's food security program known as Rise-A-Farm made it to the 2024 finalist of the Walang Gutom Award of the Galing Pook and the Department of Social Welfare and Development.

"Through our enhanced nutrition program, we have been able to steadily reduce the malnutrition rate among our preschool children over the last four years. Recent assessment shows that only one-eighth of over 36,000 preschool children are malnourished. With the soon-to-be operational Uswag Nutrition Center, we aim to eradicate malnutrition by establishing our production facility for supplementary food," he said.

The two dialysis centers, Uswag Molecular Laboratory, and improved district health centers also served thousands of Ilonggos needing medical services.

"We are now almost halfway to the realization of our dream hospital. The construction of the P1.2 billion five-story Level-2 Iloilo City Hospital and Medical Arts Building is now 37 percent completed. Recently, we also opened the door of our USWAG Physical Rehabilitation Center while more health facilities are in the pipeline, including the Stroke Rehab Center, Mega Health Center with a dialysis center, and Mental Wellness Building," he said.

For education, he said that the city government allocated millions to meet the educational needs of learners and improve school buildings and learning facilities.

Thousands availed of education through the Iloilo City Community College and Technical Institute of Iloilo City, while the Uswag scholarship program assisted 2,000 underprivileged but deserving students.

The city government also established 42 relocation sites, including four condominium-type housing projects. A total of 8,579 homeless residents were provided with decent housing.

The local government likewise invested in environmental protection through massive planting of native trees and mangroves, regular river clean-ups, declogging activities, and promoting renewable energy.

"We have instituted an ordinance granting incentives to households to adopt renewable energy sources," he said.

The mayor also took pride in Iloilo City being the first city in the country to complete its Local Public Transport Route Plan, with more than 500 modernized jeepneys already plying the streets along with some units of eco-friendly electric buses.

"We are also looking forward to a high-capacity Bus Rapid Transit, a modern yet environmentally-friendly transportation system that will enhance the city's livability," he said.

The city mayor delivered his two-phased SOCA, first through a video presentation and second through a nine-page speech before city officials, the business community, and employees of the city government.

Before he delivered the SOCA, the city government also honored Ilongos, who excelled in various endeavors in the international arena. (PNA)