December 4, 2025 — The Iloilo Economic Development Foundation (ILEDF) convened leaders from government, business, and industry for a high-level forum focused on shaping Iloilo’s investment direction for 2026 and beyond. Designed as a strategic and dialogue-driven gathering, the forum strengthened public–private collaboration toward making Iloilo a competitive, sustainable, and investment-ready province and city.
Provincial Government Perspective
The forum opened with a strong policy and development-focused segment that set the tone for the day’s discussions. Representing Governor Arthur Defensor Jr., Aulynn B. Yue Sin, Provincial LEDIP Officer of the Province of Iloilo, emphasized the importance of long-term planning, sound governance, and aligned infrastructure investments in creating a stable and investor-friendly environment across the province. He highlighted how coordinated policies and partnerships can accelerate development while ensuring sustainability and inclusive growth.
Iloilo City Economic Outlook
Mayor Raisa Treñas-Chu presented Iloilo City’s economic outlook anchored on the “RISE to ACTION” strategy roadmap. She underscored the city’s robust performance, citing its 10.5% GDP growth in 2023—the fastest in Western Visayas—driven by a services-led economy, high employment levels, and strong tourism receipts. Her presentation reinforced Iloilo City’s balanced development approach, which prioritizes economic growth alongside livability and health and social services.
ILEDF Strategic Vision: Engineered Bamboo Industry
ILEDF President Roel Z. Castro presented a data-driven strategy to position Iloilo as a globally competitive hub for engineered bamboo, shifting from raw materials and handicrafts to high-value construction products for export markets. Anchored on strong global demand for sustainable building materials, the initiative leverages Iloilo’s export-ready infrastructure, available land, and growing investor interest. With groundwork already completed, the 2026 focus is on reducing investor risk through land security, workforce readiness, and aligned policies—unlocking a scalable, job-generating, and sustainable industry for the province.
Making Iloilo Investment-Ready
In a fireside-style discussion, Mayor Raisa Treñas-Chu, alongside ILEDF President Roel Z. Castro, addressed what will make Iloilo investment-ready in the next 2–3 years. The conversation focused on policy clarity, faster approvals, aligned provincial–city actions, and disciplined execution to build long-term investor confidence—reinforcing Iloilo’s commitment to growth that protects livability and social services.
What is the single most important enabler that will make Iloilo truly investment-ready in the next 2–3 years — and why?
In response, Mayor Raisa Treñas-Chu emphasized that Iloilo’s competitive advantage lies not only in growth, but in how that growth is managed and sustained. She underscored that investment readiness must be anchored on policies and execution models that protect quality of life while enabling economic expansion.
“We aim to grow Iloilo without compromising livability and social services.”
— Mayor Raisa Treñas-Chu
The statement reinforced Iloilo City’s balanced development approach—one that gives investors confidence that growth will be stable, people-centered, and future-proof, rather than short-term or extractive.
Innovation and High-Growth Industries
Building on the discussions from earlier, the forum featured a dynamic panel on positioning Iloilo as a hub for innovation and high-growth industries, bringing together Vicente Catudio (Abil Payment Technologies), Guaya Melgar (World Bank), and Carlos Morales (Mabuhay Renewables). The discussion explored opportunities in fintech, inclusive finance, renewable energy, and non-voice IT-BPM, highlighting that innovation-driven sectors thrive only with the right ecosystems. Panelists emphasized regulatory readiness, digital infrastructure, and access to capital for SMEs and emerging enterprises, while underscoring how digital finance and clean energy can fuel inclusive, resilient, and sustainable economic growth, strengthening Iloilo’s reputation as a future-ready investment destination.
Growth of Legacy Businesses
The spotlight then turned to scaling Iloilo’s legacy businesses, featuring Tyrone Diez (JD Bakeshop), Felix Tiu (EON Group of Companies), and Allan Tan (GT Town Center Malls). Panelists shared how they grew Iloilo-based enterprises from regional foundations to national reach, highlighting adaptability, long-term vision, and strong customer connections as key drivers of sustained success. They stressed the value of staying rooted in local markets while strategically diversifying, offering practical lessons for both emerging and established entrepreneurs on how legacy businesses can fuel economic growth while staying responsive to changing market demands.
Complementing the formal discussions were dynamic side conversations and moderated exchanges between speakers and participants. These interactions allowed for deeper clarification of policies, infrastructure plans, and investment opportunities, while encouraging open dialogue between decision-makers and the business community.
Overall, the forum reinforced a shared commitment among stakeholders to strengthen Iloilo’s competitiveness, attract high-impact investments, and build a future-ready economy through collaboration, innovation, and strategic action.
should you wish to connect with ILEDF, you may contact:
Mikee Canaman
Executive Director, Iloilo Economic Development Foundation
iledf.ed@investiniloilo.ph
