ILOILO – The Western Visayas Business Conference & Expo on Wheels (WV‑BIZCONEX) made its final provincial stop here, capping a regionwide roadshow that put micro, small, and medium enterprises at the center of economic planning. Mayor Raisa Treñas welcomed delegates and used the occasion to outline a sweeping local agenda for entrepreneurs.
A Roadshow for Regional Growth
The culmination of WV‑BIZCONEX brought together officials from the Department of Trade and Industry, the Regional Development Council, and the Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry. Mayor Treñas, who chairs the RDC VI Economic Development Committee, framed the event as a moment to move from short‑term aid to long‑term business development. She highlighted the city’s belief that government should be a partner, not just a regulator.
The conference itself was designed as a mobile platform, visiting multiple provinces before landing in Iloilo for the finale. Each stop connected local MSMEs with financing institutions, government services, and industry mentors. For Iloilo, the gathering was a chance to showcase homegrown programs that have already started turning small vendors into stable enterprises.
Building Skills and Access to Capital
Central to the city’s strategy is the Uswag Negosyo Academy, which has now graduated 25 batches of entrepreneurs and market vendors. Participants receive practical training in financial literacy, merchandising, accounting, and advertising before returning to the city’s newly rehabilitated public markets. The program ensures that modernized facilities are matched by modernized skills.
For those needing funding, the city is pushing the Negosyo Credit Access for Resilient Enterprises (CARE) Program. It offers interest‑free and collateral‑free loans to qualified MSMEs, removing the barrier that kills many good ideas. Nearly 500 nano enterprises have also registered through the Nano Enterprise Incentive Program, giving informal businesses legal documents and access to government support for the first time.
Innovation Hubs and Digital Reach
Iloilo is betting on its youth as well. The first‑ever Iloilo City Start‑up Center, established at Festive Walk Parade with PCCI, DOST, and DICT, provides mentorship and co‑working space. The goal is to stop promising ideas from dying after graduation. Through Shopee Philippines, the city is also helping local producers reach customers beyond Western Visayas.
The city’s UNESCO Creative City of Gastronomy status is being leveraged through a Food Trucks and Mobile Food Kiosks Ordinance that has already recognized 18 food trucks as legitimate businesses. The inaugural MSME Summit drew around 170 entrepreneurs, offering mentorship and market linkages. These platforms give small food businesses a launchpad into the formal economy.
Housing and Markets as Economic Anchors
Beyond business support, Mayor Treñas underscored the city’s housing goal of building 2,000 units annually. She pointed to the San Juan Villanueva‑Sian Housing Site in Molo, where 517 families secured lots at the original acquisition price of ₱200 per square meter. Stable housing gives workers and entrepreneurs the security to invest in their own futures.
Public markets are also being transformed into tourism destinations, with rent‑free spaces reserved for products from partner provinces and municipalities. This opens Iloilo’s consumer base to regional producers while giving residents access to the best of Western Visayas in one place. The approach ties business growth directly to community development.
A City Moving Forward
The BizConEx finale was more than a conference; it was a statement of intent. Iloilo City is building an ecosystem where training, capital, innovation, housing, and market access all work together. For the MSMEs who attended, the message was clear: the city is serious about growing with them.
