Iloilo City is strengthening its position as a premier tourism hub, securing a 17.6 million pesos (US$298,672) grant from the Tourism Infrastructure and Enterprise Zone Authority (TIEZA) to boost its business events sector, alongside 150 million pesos dedicated to the redevelopment of its heritage plazas.
The grant, which will be disbursed over five years will focus on capacity building. Led by the MICE Center and the MICE Alliance, initial efforts will include stakeholder training, updated tourism inventories, and targeted marketing campaigns to attract large-scale international delegations. A dedicated project team will oversee these initiatives to ensure long-term economic benefits for the Ilonggo community.
TIEZA’s chief operating officer Mark Lapid noted that the investment is driven by the city’s unique competitive edge, citing a collaborative vision championed by former senator Franklin Drilon to formulate a comprehensive business events development plan.
“Iloilo City is strategically positioned to fulfil its vision of becoming a leading hub for MICE, supported by its advantageous geographic location, expanding direct air connectivity from major Asian destinations, diverse tourism assets, and a highly skilled service workforce,” stated Lapid.
He added that while the city’s branding as a UNESCO Creative City of Gastronomy and cultural hub is already established, the priority now is to promote and sustain that momentum through national and private sector partnerships.
Iloilo City Mayor Raisa Treñas revealed that the city is currently facing a “good problem” of overwhelming demand.
Last year, the Iloilo Convention Center (ICON) hosted over 150 events, and as of January 2026, the venue is already fully booked with a waitlist extending up to one year.
The ICON, recently named the Philippines’ Best Convention Center at the 6th Annual World MICE Awards, remains the flagship of an infrastructure that includes over 5,100 hotel rooms and the capacity to host 25,000 delegates.
Beyond the convention halls, a 150 million pesos TIEZA commitment will fund the redevelopment of the city’s iconic plazas in Molo, La Paz, and Jaro.
Mayor Treñas noted that this restoration will ensure Iloilo’s public spaces are on par with those found in European cities.
