13/08/2026
𝐅𝐫𝐨𝐦 𝐇𝐨𝐮𝐬𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐭𝐨 𝐋𝐢𝐯𝐞𝐥𝐢𝐡𝐨𝐨𝐝: 𝐏𝐚𝐬𝐢𝐥𝐨𝐧𝐠 𝐆𝐢𝐯𝐞𝐬 𝐈𝐥𝐨𝐢𝐥𝐨 𝐂𝐢𝐭𝐲 𝐇𝐎𝐀𝐬 𝐍𝐞𝐰 𝐖𝐚𝐲𝐬 𝐭𝐨 𝐓𝐡𝐫𝐢𝐯𝐞
“Sa pagpungko ni Mayor (Raisa Treñas), madamo gid siya nahimo nga kaayuhan diri sa syudad. Subong, ari naman ang mga livelihood kag may scholarship pa gid para sa amon mga kabataan. Bag-o pa lang gid siya nagpungko pero damo na siya nahimo. Amo na siling ko, halin sa amay niya (former Mayor Jerry Treñas), amo man ini ang ginahimo. Pareho gid sila. Kabay pa nga magapadayon ini nga mga proyekto.”
This was the heartfelt statement of Madelyn Perela, president of the Uswag Sambag Subdivision Homeowners Association (HOA), as she welcomed the livelihood assistance extended to their community through the Iloilo City Government’s Pasilong (Pabalay para sa Pamilyang Ilonggo) Program.
For Perela and other HOA leaders, the assistance means more than additional projects in their communities. It represents an opportunity for residents to earn, support their families and gradually become more self-sustaining.
The Uswag Sambag Subdivision HOA is among the 17 HOAs from the city government’s relocation and housing communities that benefited from more than ₱5 million in livelihood assistance, provided by the city government with strong partners, including the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR).
The HOA received ₱400,000 for a community market and another ₱400,000 for a sari-sari store.
The ceremonial turnover of the livelihood projects—including meat processing, sari-sari stores, sewing and weaving, digital printing services and bulugasan—was held on August 12 during the Grand Launching of Pasilong.
For Lelanie Pestaño Deasis of Iloilo River Plains Subdivision, the assistance gives homeowners an opportunity to generate additional income.
“Nagapasalamat kami kay Mayor Raisa sa oportunidad nga ginhatag sa amon nga makapangabuhi paagi sa livelihood. Daku gid ini nga bulig sa amon,” Deasis said.
Five villages under the Iloilo River Plains Subdivision received support for sari-sari stores amounting to ₱500,000 and a market stall worth ₱400,000.
Meanwhile, Romeo Celiz, president of the San Juan On-Site Area 1 HOAs, described their ₱200,000 sari-sari store as a blessing to their community.
“Daku gid ini nga blessing para sa amon. Nagapasalamat gid kami kay Mayor Raisa nga naka-avail kami sini nga benepisyo. Daku gid ini nga bulig para sa amon nga mga homeowners kag sa amon komunidad,” Celiz said.
For Uswag Lanit HOA President Jimmy Peñaflorida, the assistance is especially meaningful because their community received support for two livelihood ventures.
“I am very thankful gid sa Pasilong Livelihood nga ginhatag sa amon ni Mayor Raisa because duha gid ang amon nakuha—Bulugasan nga nagabalor sang ₱400,000 kag Sari-Sari Store nga ₱200,000,” Peñaflorida said.
Also expressing gratitude was Hilda Bentolan, president of Hopeville Homeowners Association in Barangay Sambag, Jaro, who acknowledged the support extended to their community.
“Gapasalamat gid kami kay Mayor Raisa kag Atty. Peter Millare nga wala gid kami ginapabay-an. Labi na gid kay Mayor Raisa, daku gid ang amon pasalamat kay daku gid ini nga bulig sa amon,” Bintulan said.
The testimonies of the HOA leaders reflect a common sentiment among the beneficiaries, that livelihood assistance gives communities a chance to create their own sources of income rather than relying solely on dole-outs. (Iloilo City PIO)
