Iloilo City Continues Vendors’ Capacity-Building, Complements Markets Development

The Iloilo City Government’s efforts to improve the competitiveness of micro, small, and medium enterprises parallel to the market rehabilitation continues through Uswag Negosyo Academy’s (UNA) enabling over 300 vendors.

Since 2023, 139 vendors from the two largest Iloilo City-run markets, Central and Terminal, have been trained in business operations, financial management, and customer service and satisfaction, among others, to grow their enterprises.

A total of 188 more vendors are from other public city district markets. Mayor Jerry P. Treñas believes that redeveloping the markets alone is not enough—empowering the vendors themselves is the key to lasting progress.

“The Iloilo City Government is committed to improving the livelihood of our market vendors while modernizing our public markets to meet the growing needs of our city,” he said, ensuring they are well-prepared to thrive in a modernized setting through UNA.

The local chief executive added that he will issue an Executive Order deferring the increase in market rentals until 2026, after the vendors have actually settled down in their respective markets. As of February 2025, the city government’s Local Economic Development and Investment Promotion Office, in collaboration with the Local Economic Enterprise Office, is holding another set of training sessions for Batches 15 and 16, with 25 market vendors each.

The topics covered in their first session are Work Ethics, Service Quality, the Barangay Micro Business Enterprise Application, and Business Name Registration.

For a holistic learning experience, additional topics shall be covered in the succeeding sessions through the city’s partnership with Banco De Oro (BDO), Department of Trade and Industry, Department of Science and Technology, Department of Labor and Employment, Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources, Regional Tripartite Wages and Productivity Board, City Social Welfare and Development Office, Iloilo City Community College, and City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office.

Capital support of P5,000 will be provided to each participant upon completion of the six training sessions to help jumpstart their businesses or expand their operations, making valuable contributions to the overall economic growth of Iloilo City.

Treñas said the city eyes to inaugurate the Central and Terminal Markets within the year, followed by the Arevalo, La Paz, and Jaro public markets. (Pearl Socias/Iloilo City PIO)