Iloilo City boosts market vendor empowerment through Una and Sige initiatives
Iloilo City's Sige Program: Empowering Market Vendors for a Resilient Economy
The Iloilo City Sige Program, a flagship initiative under the Rising Economy pillar of Mayor Inday Raisa Treñas' administration, is making waves in the local community. This program, designed to support small-scale vendors and traders, particularly during challenging economic periods, has been instrumental in providing financial assistance, ensuring the continuity of local trade, and enhancing economic resilience among informal sector workers.
The Sige Program, which evolved from the Negosyo Center Academy, has already trained over 1,500 market vendors before its formal relaunch. Vilma Lao, head of the Local Economic Development and Investment Promotion (Ledip) Office, and Maricel Mabaquiao, head of the Local Economic Enterprise Office (Leeo), are part of the dedicated teams driving this program.
The program offers half-day sessions on financial literacy, food safety, visual merchandising, digital literacy, and business registration, aiming to align vendors with the modernized demands of public market operations. Each training batch attracts over 300 vendors, testifying to its widespread appeal and impact.
Banks are actively involved in providing financial education and services within the Sige Program. Institutions such as BDO Foundation, GCash, SM, and the Bankers Association of Iloilo (BAI) Inc. are collaborating with the Iloilo City Negosyo Center and the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) to ensure the program's success.
The transformation of market infrastructure in Iloilo City began under Treñas' previous administration. Treñas emphasized the shift from short-term assistance to long-lasting entrepreneurial development, a philosophy that continues to guide the Sige Program.
The Sige Program is the second major program launch within five weeks of Treñas' tenure as mayor. Vilma Lao, head of the Ledip Office, highlighted the significance of both digital connectivity and business capacity building in the program's objectives.
Iloilo City Mayor Inday Raisa Treñas reiterated the city's commitment to supporting market vendors through the Uswag Negosyo Academy (Una) and the Sige Program on August 5, 2025. As the program continues to evolve, it promises to play a pivotal role in alleviating financial difficulties faced by vendors, supporting their ability to sustain their businesses, and improving their overall economic condition during adverse times.
For precise and current information about the Iloilo City Sige Program, it is recommended to check official announcements from the Iloilo City government or local news sources.
- The Iloilo City government, under Mayor Inday Raisa Trenasa's administration, is enhancing education and personal growth among market vendors through the Sige Program, which falls under the Rising Economy pillar.
- The Sige Program, initially developed from the Negosyo Center Academy, offers education and self-development in various areas like financial literacy, food safety, digital literacy, and visual merchandising, aiding vendors in meeting modern market requirements.
- Iloilo City's local Development and Investment Promotion (Ledip) Office, led by Vilma Lao, and Local Economic Enterprise Office (Leeo) work together to implement the Sige Program, bringing about economic improvements and business growth in the informal sector.
- Financial institutions such as BDO Foundation, GCash, SM, and the Bankers Association of Iloilo (BAI) Inc. collaborate with the Iloilo City Negosyo Center and Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) to provide financial education and services within the Sige Program.
- The Sige Program is not just a temporary assistance initiative but a way to foster long-term entrepreneurial development, a philosophy that has been a constant in Mayor Trenasa's administration, including the launch of the Uswag Negosyo Academy (Una) and the Sige Program itself.
