14/10/2026
ILOILO’S ECONOMY IS GROWING. BUT ARE ILOILO’S FAMILIES GETTING AHEAD?
Iloilo Province’s economy grew by 5.9% in 2025, while Iloilo City recorded 6.1% growth, according to the Philippine Statistics Authority.
These are encouraging numbers. But there is another side to the story: the rising cost of living.
With inflation putting pressure on food, transportation, electricity and other household expenses, we must ask a more important question:
Are ordinary Ilonggos actually better off?
Economic growth measures how much an economy produces. It does not automatically tell us whether workers earn more, farmers make better incomes, small businesses become more profitable, or families have more money left after paying their bills.
Imagine a worker receiving a salary increase, only to spend even more on groceries, transportation and utilities. On paper, income has increased. In reality, that worker may be falling behind.
This is why we need to look beyond GDP.
A truly prosperous Iloilo should mean:
✅ Better-paying jobs and higher real wages.
✅ More profitable livelihoods for farmers and small business owners.
✅ More affordable food, transportation and basic services.
✅ Better infrastructure and more efficient public services.
✅ More money left for savings, education, healthcare and family needs.
Economic growth is important. But growth must translate into better living standards.
The real measure of progress is not just how much bigger our economy becomes, but how much better life becomes for the people who sustain it.
Let’s celebrate Iloilo’s economic gains while continuing to ask the right questions.
Because development should not only be visible in our buildings, business districts and infrastructure. It should also be felt in every household.
