Iloilo City, Province of Iloilo, Western Visayas Region, Philippines

🇵🇭 Iloilo City, officially the City of Iloilo, is a 1st class highly urbanised city in the Western Visayas region of the Philippines. It is the capital city of the province of Iloilo where it is geographically situated and grouped under the Philippine Statistics Authority, but remains politically independent in terms of government and administration. In addition, it is the centre of the Iloilo-Guimaras Metropolitan Area, as well as the regional centre and primate city of the Western Visayas region.

The city is a conglomeration of former towns, now organized into seven geographical or administrative districts: the City Proper, Jaro, Molo, Mandurriao, La Paz, Arevalo, and Lapuz. It is the largest city and capital of Iloilo, where the city is geographically situated and grouped under the Philippine Statistics Authority, but remains politically independent in terms of government and administration. In addition, it is the centre of the Iloilo–Guimaras metropolitan area, as well as the regional centre of the Western Visayas region. The city serves as the regional hub for trade, commerce, industry, education, religion, healthcare, tourism, culture, and culinary arts.

In 1566, the Spanish settled in Iloilo, establishing it as the second Spanish colonial centre in the Philippines after Cebu. The city was bestowed with the honorific title 'La Muy Leal y Noble Ciudad' (Most Loyal and Noble City) by Queen Regent Maria Cristina of Spain in recognition of its loyalty to the Spanish crown during the Philippine Revolution. Iloilo City served as the last capital of the captaincy general of the Spanish East Indies before the Philippines was ceded to the United States in 1898 through the Treaty of Paris. The city was also the capital of the short-lived Federal State of the Visayas, a revolutionary state in the central Philippines that aimed to promote federalism in the country. At the turn of the 20th century, Iloilo City was second only to Manila in economic importance in the Philippines, with its port open to international trade.

Iloilo City is among the fastest-developing cities in the Philippines, experiencing significant annual growth since the redevelopment of the old airport in Mandurriao. The IT-BPM industry in the city continues to thrive and remains in high demand. It has been recognised as a top location for outsourcing expansion outside Metro Manila and is the third-largest hub for the industry in the country.

History Iloilo’s demographic and economic landscape expanded with the arrival of Chinese migrants, who fueled local industries, and Latin American soldiers, who manned its defenses. In the late 18th century, the city became a centre for large-scale textile production and was once referred to as the "textile capital" of the Philippines. Artisans wove sinamay, piña, and jusi fabrics, which were traded in Manila and exported to international markets. The industry thrived until the mid-19th century, when competition from inexpensive British textiles and the shift to sugar production diminished its prominence. The opening of Iloilo’s port to global trade in 1855 marked a turning point, driven by British vice-consul Nicholas Loney, who provided loans, built warehouses, and introduced modern sugar-farming techniques. The resulting sugar boom, centered on haciendas developed by Iloilo’s elite on Negros, transformed the city, attracting foreign consulates, banks, and recreational facilities while elevating the status of its upper middle class.

On October 5, 1889, a royal decree recognised Iloilo’s commercial and industrial ascent by granting it city status, formalized with the establishment of the ayuntamiento in 1890 under Governor-General Valeriano Weyler. Due to the steadfast loyalty of the Ilonggos, particularly evident during conflicts with neighboring Muslim polities and later revolutionary movements, Iloilo was honored with the perpetual title of 'La Muy Leal y Noble Ciudad' (Most Loyal and Noble City). The distinction, bestowed by a Royal Decree signed on March 1, 1898, by Queen Regent Maria Cristina, underscored the city’s favored status under Spanish rule. Over time, Iloilo became known as the 'Queen's Favored City in the South,' or simply 'Queen’s City in the South,' being the second-most significant Spanish port after Manila and its southern location relative to the capital. Throughout the late colonial era, Iloilo rivaled Manila in importance, serving as a key economic and military hub.

During the Philippine Revolution, Iloilo initially remained loyal to Spain. The city’s elite organized a 500-strong battalion of native volunteers, divided into two companies under predominantly Spanish officers, which departed for Manila on January 16, 1897. The force distinguished itself in combat against Emilio Aguinaldo’s Katipunan rebels in Cavite, returning to Iloilo in April 1898 after the Pact of Biak-na-Bato amid public celebrations. Following Spain’s defeat in the Spanish–American War in 1898, Iloilo briefly served as the capital of the Spanish East Indies under Governor-General Diego de los Rios. As revolutionary fervor spread, Aguinaldo dispatched Tagalog forces to Panay, and by October 1898, General Martín Delgado had secured most of the island, save for Iloilo, Jaro, La Paz, and Molo. On December 25, 1898, fifteen days after the Treaty of Paris ceded the Philippines to the United States, Spanish troops surrendered at Plaza Alfonso XII, now Plaza Libertad, to Delgado’s forces, marking Iloilo as Spain’s final bastion in Asia and the Pacific.

American period Following the Spanish withdrawal, revolutionary forces entered Iloilo with fanfare, establishing a provisional government. On January 17, 1899, Raymundo Melliza, a prominent figure from Molo’s elite, was elected mayor, ushering in a brief period of local rule. American forces arrived in 1900, downgrading Iloilo from a city to a township amid the transition to U.S. control. In 1903, Act No. 719 reorganized the region, incorporating the municipalities of Jaro, La Paz, Mandurriao, and Molo into the jurisdiction of Iloilo. Pavia joined briefly in 1905 under Act No. 1333 but was separated in 1907 alongside Jaro, which became an independent municipality in 1908 via Executive Order No. 64. La Paz regained its autonomy in 1920 through Executive Order No. 70, signed in 1919.

The arrival of American Protestant missionaries in Iloilo, one of the first Philippine cities they reached after the 1898 Treaty of Paris, marked a significant shift in the region's religious and institutional landscape. With U.S. government support and amid prevailing anti-Catholic sentiments, these missionaries established enduring institutions: Central Philippine University in 1905, founded through a grant from philanthropist John D. Rockefeller as the first Baptist and second American and Protestant university in Asia; Iloilo Mission Hospital in 1901, the first American and Protestant-founded hospital in the Philippines; Jaro Evangelical Church in 1900, the first Baptist church in the country and the first Protestant church outside Manila; the Convention of Philippine Baptist Churches, the oldest Baptist church union in the Philippines; and the CPU College of Theology, the nation's first Baptist theological seminary and the first Protestant seminary outside Manila.

American administration brought significant infrastructure improvements in the city. Early projects included the construction of Baluarte and Arroyo streets, the extension of Delgado Street to Valeria, and the development of Fuentes and Jalandoni streets, reaching what is now the University of the Philippines Visayas campus. Quezon and Mabini streets were paved and lined with sidewalks, while streetlights illuminated the city by 1921. In 1926, authorities began widening key thoroughfares such as General Luna, J.M. Basa, and Ledesma. A notable milestone came in 1927 with the inauguration of the improved Valeria-Ledesma street, formerly Weyler. Commonwealth Act No. 57, enacted in 1936, restored Iloilo’s city status, swiftly amended by Act No. 158 to annex La Paz and Arevalo. The re-established city was inaugurated on August 25, 1937. Jaro’s incorporation followed in 1941 under Commonwealth Act No. 604, with President Manuel L. Quezon issuing Proclamation No. 663 on January 7, setting January 16 as the effective date.

Japanese occupation period By 1942, the Japanese had invaded Panay, and the economy came to a standstill. During World War II, Iloilo was controlled by several Japanese battalions. Japan's ultimate goal was to entrench itself deeply in the Philippines so that, at the close of the war, it could occupy the country just as the Spanish and the Americans had years before. The Japanese built "comfort stations" in Iloilo in 1942, where they imprisoned Filipino "comfort women" who were routinely gang-raped, brutalized, and murdered for entertainment.

Nevertheless, during the Japanese occupation, Macario Peralta Jr. freed most of Panay (with few exceptions) from Japanese imperialism. As a result, allied guerrillas from other provinces, including Romblon, Palawan, Marinduque, and portions of Masbate and Mindoro, considered Panay, the "Primus inter pares" in their alliance network.

When Iloilo was liberated by Filipino and American forces from Japanese military occupation on March 25, 1945, the remnants of these battalions were held in Jaro Plaza, which was used as a makeshift detention facility.

Post-war and independence era The aftermath of World War II left Iloilo’s infrastructure heavily damaged. The situation worsened in 1966 when a massive fire destroyed nearly three-quarters of the city’s downtown area, further crippling its economy. Compounding these challenges were ongoing conflicts between labor unions in the port area, the decline of the sugar industry, and a deteriorating peace and order situation in the countryside. These factors prompted many Ilonggos to seek better opportunities elsewhere, leading to a significant exodus to cities like Bacolod, Cebu, and Manila. The migration contributed to Iloilo’s decline as a central economic hub in the Philippines. While rural agricultural areas continued to support the local economy, the loss of investors and skilled workers slowed Iloilo’s progress. For years, the city’s economy grew at a moderate pace, struggling to regain its former prominence.

Change came slowly. The construction of a fishing port and a new international sea port marked the beginning of Iloilo’s recovery. These infrastructure projects attracted commercial business firms, which began investing in the city one by one. The gradual influx of investment spurred Iloilo’s eventual economic revival, setting the stage for its resurgence as a key player in the region. Iloilo became a highly urbanized city on December 22, 1979, by virtue of Batas Pambansa Blg. 51. As a result of the new status, its residents effectively lost their eligibility to vote for provincial officials.

Martial law era The late 1960s marked the beginning of a period of unrest in the Philippines, driven by the economic fallout from Ferdinand Marcos’ debt-driven projects. The projects, aimed at securing his re-election in 1969, led to a balance of payments crisis and soaring inflation. By the time of his second inauguration on December 30, 1969, the peso had begun to crash, sparking widespread social unrest. While major protests erupted in Manila, Iloilo City also became a centre of resistance. Students from Central Philippine University and the nearby Western Institute of Technology in La Paz played a pivotal role in organizing the protests. They formed the Federation of Ilonggo Students (FIST), with leaders like Vic Beloria, Renato Ganchero, Virgil Ortigas, and the brothers Napoleon and Rolando Lorca. These activists would later be forced into hiding after Marcos declared martial law in 1972. Many of them lost their lives resisting the dictatorship and were honored as martyrs, with their names inscribed on the Bantayog ng mga Bayani (Heroes’ Memorial). Another prominent student activist, Edmundo Legislador of the University of the Philippines Iloilo, was similarly honored for his role in the resistance.

The declaration of martial law in 1972 marked the beginning of a 14-year period of authoritarian rule characterized by widespread human rights abuses. According to documentation by Amnesty International and Task Force Detainees of the Philippines, the Marcos regime was responsible for 3,257 extrajudicial killings, 35,000 cases of torture, and 70,000 incarcerations. Iloilo was not spared from the repression, as it became home to one of the key detention centres for political prisoners, the Camp Delgado.

Among the prominent figures detained at Camp Delgado was Rodolfo Lagoc, a labor lawyer who was held without charges for six months. Another detainee was Coronacion “Walingwaling” Chiva, a World War II heroine whose legendary status largely protected her from harm during her detention. Other activists, such as Luing Posa-Dominado and Judy Taguiwalo, were subjected to torture, manhandling, and sexual assault. For their bravery and sacrifices, Lagoc, Chiva, and Posa-Dominado were later honored on the Wall of Remembrance at the Bantayog ng mga Bayani. Taguiwalo, who survived the ordeal, went on to serve as Secretary of the Department of Social Welfare and Development.

Late 20th and early 21st centuries At the turn of the 21st century, Iloilo experienced a significant economic boom, driven by major infrastructure projects and investments. The acquisition of the old Iloilo Airport in Mandurriao district and the construction of the Iloilo Diversion Road spurred urban development, attracting major businesses and real estate developers to the area. The investments transformed Iloilo into one of the fastest-growing economies in the Philippines.

In 2008, Lapuz gained its district status after separating from La Paz as a sub-district, making it the seventh district of Iloilo City. The resolution was passed to enable Lapuz to have its own dedicated police station and fire station.

The city’s power distribution system underwent a major change in 2019. MORE Electric and Power Corporation (MORE Power), owned by Spanish-Filipino billionaire Enrique K. Razon, took over operations from the long-standing Panay Electric Company (PECO). MORE Power introduced modern power services, including the installation of an underground cabling system, starting with Calle Real in downtown Iloilo City.

In 2024, the Iloilo Commercial Port Complex was granted to International Container Terminal Services, Inc. (ICTSI) for development and management. Renamed the Visayas Container Terminal, the project aimed to modernize the facility and expand its international connectivity, further enhance trade and economic growth in the central Philippines.

Geography Iloilo City is situated on the southern shores of Panay, facing the Iloilo Strait and Guimaras to its south and east. The location forms a natural harbor and a safe anchorage for ships. The city is bordered by the municipality of Oton to the west, Pavia to the north, and Leganes to the northeast. Across the Iloilo Strait, along its eastern and southern coastlines, lie the towns of Buenavista and Jordan in the island-province of Guimaras.

The city occupies a flat alluvial plain, largely reclaimed from swampy areas due to urbanization and industrialization from the late 19th century to the present. Several rivers traverse the city, including the Iloilo, Batiano, Jaro, and Dungon Creek. The Iloilo River, an estuary, separates the districts of City Proper, Molo, and Arevalo from the rest of the city. The Jaro River, meanwhile, is fed by its tributaries, the Aganan and Tigum rivers. Recently, the Jaro Floodway was developed as a new escape channel to divert floodwaters from these two rivers into the Iloilo Strait. Iloilo City lies 337.6 nautical miles (630 km) from Manila, 116 km (72 mi) from Roxas City, 158 km (98 mi) from Kalibo, and 97 km (60 mi) from San Jose de Buenavista. It spans a total land area of 70.3 square km (27.1 sq mi).

The city is divided into seven geographical districts: the City Proper, Jaro, Molo, Mandurriao, La Paz, Arevalo, and Lapuz. All districts, except Lapuz, were once independent towns; Lapuz was a sub-district of La Paz until it gained separate status in 2008. Each district features its own town centre, equipped with a plaza, a Roman Catholic church, a fire station, a police station, and a public market. City Proper serves as the commercial hub and the political centre of both the city and Iloilo province, as well as the regional government centre of Western Visayas.

Iloilo City anchors the only officially recognised metropolitan area in Western Visayas. The metropolitan area encompasses Iloilo City and the surrounding municipalities of Leganes, Pavia, Santa Barbara, Cabatuan, San Miguel, and Oton, along with the island-province of Guimaras and its five municipalities: Sibunag, San Lorenzo, Nueva Valencia, Buenavista, and Jordan.

Barangays and districts Iloilo City constitutes one at-large congressional district and is divided into seven administrative districts, each of which is subdivided into barangays, with a total of 180 barangays across the city.

Cityscape Iloilo City’s geographical and architectural features have significantly influenced its centuries-long role as a trading hub, blending colonial heritage with modern development. Situated on a plain along the south-eastern coast of Panay, the city is bordered by the Iloilo Strait and the island of Guimaras, which together form a natural harbor. The Iloilo and Batiano rivers flow through its districts, eventually emptying into the strait, while bicycle paths, ornamental trees, parks, gardens, and open spaces contribute to its well-planned urban landscape. The city is a conglomerate of former towns, including the once-independent city of Jaro, with each district maintaining its distinct character. Civic centres in each district often feature Spanish colonial layouts, characterized by plazas, churches, and municipal halls. Modern developments are strategically concentrated in Mandurriao, ensuring the preservation of the city’s skyline, heritage zones, and environment, while also extending into neighboring towns within its metropolitan area.

Architecture Iloilo City’s urban planning and architecture reflect a blend of Spanish and American colonial influences. In 1930, Juan Arellano designed a schematic plan inspired by Ebenezer Howard’s "Garden City" concept, shaping the city’s layout as an amalgamation of former towns, each centered around plazas surrounded by churches and administrative halls. The Spanish colonial sugar boom left a legacy of 240 mansions, 30 of which are grand, built by elite Ilonggo families. The city is recognised for preserving and restoring heritage structures, boasting the most restored heritage sites outside Metro Manila.

In the City Proper, Calle Real, stretching from Plazoleta Gay to Plaza Libertad, is lined with neoclassical and art deco buildings similar to Manila’s Escolta. Among these are American-era landmarks such as the Aduana de Iloilo and the old Iloilo City Hall, both designed by Juan Arellano. The first Spanish settlement in the city, La Villa Rica de Arevalo, retains heritage structures like Camiña Balay nga Bato and the Convento de Arevalo, showcasing bahay na bato-style architecture. Jaro, once a separate city until the 1940s, features Beaux-Arts grand mansions like the Lopez Heritage House and Lizares Mansion, alongside the Art Deco Jaro Municipal Hall and the Romanesque Revival-style Jaro Cathedral with its separate belfry. Molo, known for its Chinese heritage, is home to the Gothic-style Molo Church and the restored Art Deco Molo Mansion, now a popular tourist attraction.

In recent decades, Iloilo’s economic growth has spurred modern architectural developments, including the Iloilo Convention Center designed by William Coscolluela, whose modern facade is inspired by the Dinagyang and Paraw Regatta festivals. District plazas and other historic structures have also been restored, while plans are underway to reconstruct Fort San Pedro, a ruined military defense structure originally built in the 1600s, and the Iloilo Central Market, a public market with an Art Deco facade.

Eco-innovation Iloilo City stands out as a model of sustainable urban development, blending green initiatives, recreational spaces, and smart city innovations. Recognized with the 2017 Clean Air City Award and the 2020 ASEAN Clean Tourist City Award, the city has implemented policies such as banning plastic straws, mandating wastewater treatment along the Iloilo River, and enforcing biodegradable waste segregation. The Iloilo Batiano River Development Project, a two-time Galing Pook Award winner (2018 and 2022), showcases replicable environmental practices, while tree-planting programs and expanded mangrove forests enhance biodiversity and reduce the city’s carbon footprint.

The Iloilo River Esplanade, the Philippines’ longest linear park, exemplifies the city’s commitment to green spaces. Designed by Filipino architect Paulo Alcazaren, it features 22 of the country’s 35 endemic mangrove species, serving as a vital marine breeding ground. Historic plazas with ornamental gardens, the revitalized Sunburst Park, the Freedom Grandstand at Muelle Loney with mini-gardens, and the landscaped Iloilo Provincial Capitol complex—home to the National Museum Western Visayas. Additionally, all of the city’s plazas—Plaza Libertad, Jaro Plaza, Molo Plaza, La Paz Plaza, Mandurriao Plaza, and Arevalo Plaza—have also undergone rehabilitation.

Iloilo is also advancing as a smart city, integrating technology to improve livability and sustainability. Initiatives include free public Wi-Fi, electric public transport vehicles, flood-prevention pumping stations, and air quality monitoring systems that meet international standards. Taxis use navigation systems, and barangays employ CCTV for traffic and safety management. The city’s bike-friendly programs, such as the I-Bike Program, have earned awards like the 2018 Most Bike-Friendly City citation and Gold Awards in the 2021 and 2022 National Bike Day Bike Lane Awards. In 2024, Iloilo was ranked 6th among the world’s top 18 fitness-friendly cities by Headline Bulletin.

Demographics According to the 2020 Philippine census, Iloilo City has a population of 456,626, making it the 25th most populous city in the Philippines and the fourth most populous city in the Visayas. The population consists of 224,203 males (49.1%) and 232,423 females (50.9%). It has a population density of 5,842/km² (15,130/sq mi).

Language Hiligaynon is the predominant language spoken in Iloilo City. English serves as the primary language for business and education. Other local languages, such as Karay-a (also known as Kinaray-a or the outdated term Haraya), are spoken by a minority from certain parts of Iloilo province. Spanish, once widely used during the colonial era and into the 1980s, is now fading, though a broken Spanish creole persists among a few families of Spanish descent and elderly sugar barons; who concentrate around the districts of Jaro and Arevalo where the Spaniards and Mexicans historically settled. Chinese, specifically the dialect of Hokkien is often spoken in the district of Molo, the city's Chinatown whereas Indian Hindi can be found in Mandurriao.

Hiligaynon, part of the Visayan language family within the Malayo-Polynesian languages, is prevalent across Panay, Guimaras, and Negros islands. It is also the main language in Soccsksargen, Mindanao, where most residents trace their ancestry to Hiligaynon speakers. Due to Iloilo’s 300-year history as a Spanish colony, Hiligaynon incorporates numerous Spanish loanwords, such as guerra (war), puerta (door), golpe (strike), aguanta (endure), puerto (port), calle (street), and edificio (building). The language is concentrated in the provinces of Iloilo, Guimaras, and Negros Occidental. In Iloilo and Negros Occidental, it is often referred to as "Ilonggo" (Spanish: Ilongo/Ylongo), a term that also denotes the ethnolinguistic group and cultural identity of native Hiligaynon speakers in Iloilo. The distinction between "Hiligaynon" and "Ilonggo" remains ambiguous, with many locals describing Hiligaynon as the language and Ilonggo as the identity or culture tied to Iloilo.

Religion Iloilo City is a significant religious centre in the Philippines, shaped by 300 years of Spanish colonization that established a predominantly Catholic population. Over 90 percent of residents adhere to the Roman Catholic Church, with Protestant denominations (5 percent), Iglesia ni Cristo (2 percent), and the Philippine Independent Church or Aglipayans (1 percent)—a form of Episcopal Anglo-Catholicism—representing notable minorities.

Jaro has long been a hub of Christian institutions. The Spanish introduced Roman Catholicism, establishing the Archdiocese of Jaro, while American colonial rule brought Protestantism, leading to the founding of key institutions. The Jaro Metropolitan Cathedral, designated a National Shrine—the second in Visayas and Mindanao and the first Marian-dedicated shrine outside Luzon—is the seat of the Archdiocese of Jaro and a focal point for devotion to Our Lady of Candles, the patroness of Western Visayas and Romblon, alongside Saint Elizabeth of Hungary. The archdiocese, one of the country’s oldest and largest, began as a parish in 1587, covering Cabatuan, and Maasin. It became a diocese in 1865 under Pope Pius IX, with jurisdiction over suffragan bishops in Mindoro, Palawan, Zamboanga, Iloilo Province, Negros Oriental, Guimaras, San Jose de Buenavista, Capiz, Bacolod, San Carlos, and Kabankalan. Elevated to a metropolitan archdiocese by Pope Pius XII, it later ceded territory to form the dioceses of Zamboanga (1910), Bacolod (1932), Mindoro (1936), Capiz (1951), and the Territorial Prelature of San Jose de Antique (1962), though the latter remains partially under its purview.

The Cathedral of Our Lady of Peace and Good Voyage in La Paz serves as the episcopal seat of the Diocese of Iloilo for the Iglesia Filipina Independiente (Aglipayan Church). Protestantism, introduced by Americans after the 1898 Treaty of Paris, grew due to Iloilo’s economic prominence in the early 1900s and the religious freedom upheld by the American colonial government. Presbyterians established the Iloilo Mission Hospital in 1901, the first American and Protestant hospital in the Philippines. Baptists founded the Jaro Evangelical Church in 1900—the first Baptist and second Protestant church in the country after Manila’s Central United Methodist Church—the Convention of Philippine Baptist Churches, and Central Philippine University in 1905, funded by John D. Rockefeller, marking it as the first Baptist and second American university in Asia. Seventh-day Adventists, arriving later outside the early Protestant comity agreement, established the Jaro Adventist Center, the first organized Adventist church outside Manila.

Other Christian groups, such as Iglesia ni Cristo and The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, have a presence, alongside non-Christian communities including Muslims from southern Philippines, Sikhs from Indian immigrants, and Taoists and Buddhists from Chinese immigrants.

Economy Iloilo City is a hub for trade, commerce, finance, technology, medical tourism, hospitality, real estate, tourism, education, and industry in the Western Visayas region. Major industries in the city include management of port facilities, telecommunications infrastructure and utilities, banking and finance, retail trading, real estate, tourism and business process out-sourcing. The local government has provided incentives to businesses in certain investment areas, such as income tax holidays and free issuance of permits and licenses. It is the home of Mang Inasal headquartered in Iloilo.

During Spanish colonial period, sugar was the main export product of Iloilo. The industry brought immense wealth to the city when its port was opened to the international trade. It was in 21st century that the economic activity in Iloilo flourished. The opening of the Iloilo International Airport in 2007 paved the way for the city to prosper. The acquisition of the old airport after it was decommissioned, and a construction of a business park on its site by the real estate giant Megaworld Corporation, became a catalyst for land developers to invest in Iloilo.

As a thriving economic hub in the Western Visayas region, an adequate and growing number of banks establishing branches leads the metropolis as the city with the most banks savings deposits and accounts in the Western Visayas region (third in the Philippines); the modernly built Iloilo International Airport is the 4th busiest airport in the country; the Port of Iloilo which is one of the historical ports in the Philippine islands is now one of the busiest ports and natural harbor in the country by terms of passenger movement and cargo handling; and with the on-going building construction boom especially in the real estate and retail sectors. Iloilo city has the lowest crime rate in entire Philippines, lowest level of corruption, highest life expectancy in Visayas and Mindanao, huge concentration of middle class and rank 1 in happiness index, and the most business-friendly city

Trade and industry There were 8,407 business establishments as of December 2003 in Iloilo City, of which 1,182 are new. Total capital investments for new business establishments is P365,506,020.92. However, both new and renewed capital investments for the year 2003 amounted to ₱13.02 billion. Of the employed person by type of industry from primary occupation 82% belongs to service sector, 14% belongs industry sector and only 4% are in agriculture (as of April 2003 FIES, NSO). Average annual family income (at current prices) is P 283,604 or a percentage increase of 32.3 between 1994 and 1997 while Average Annual Family Expenditures is P 226,887 or a 25.6% increase (2000 FIES).

Average per Capita Income is P 65,136 and Average Per Capita Expenditures is P 51,557 (FIES 2000). Average Inflation Rate is 3.2, the Average Purchasing Power of the Peso is 0.62 and the Average Consumer Price Index (CPI) is 162.6 in 2003. (Source: NSO, Prices Section).

Banking and finance The banking industry in Iloilo dates back during the Spanish times. The establishment of banks during such time is hinge to Iloilo's importance as an international gateway when its port was open for foreign ships to dock in, and the sugar-boom. The first Banco Español-Filipino (now Bank of the Philippines), opened its first branch outside of Manila in Iloilo. The first Philippine National Bank branch outside Manila also opened in the city. With that, there are also international banks implying the city's importance in banking history in the Philippines, that opened in Iloilo during Spanish-American times that ceased their operations in the city: the Hong Kong and Shanghai Banking Corporation (HSBC), first HSBC branch outside Manila; and Standard Chartered (first Standard Chartered Bank branch outside Manila).

At present, Iloilo ranks 3rd in the country as the city with most deposits or savings account, fueled by OFW remittances, IT-BPO industry, and the local industries. The surge of microfinancial and other lending institutions in the city has also sprouted. It is the headquarters of LifeBank MFI, the Iloilo's largest homegrown microfinancial institution (3rd largest microfinancial institution in the country) with ~500 branches across the Philippines.

Queen City Development Bank (QueenBank) which is owned by the Florete Group, is one of the founding member of Megalink (the first bank outside of Manila to become a member of it) has its headquarters and 1st branch in Iloilo City.

Information technology The IT-BPO and KPO industry has spurred employment in the metropolis. IT-BPO and KPO locators are attracted to Iloilo because of the literacy rate and number of graduates per year. With continuous influx of business-process outsourcing (BPO) and knowledge process outsourcing (KPO) industry, Iloilo has fast becoming a "Silicon Valley" backed by its political leaders. BPO investors are attracted to Iloilo due to stable energy source, availability of building spaces, high number of graduates and English Proficiency.

Megaworld's Iloilo Business Park - One Global Center, Two Global Center and Three Techno Place are Iloilo operation sites of Transcom Asia, StarTek, WNS Global and Convergent powered by Nearsol, respectively. While Richmonde Tower is where Reed Elsevier is operates. Other IT-BPO and KPO locators are Callbox (the largest homegrown IT-BPO company in Iloilo), Fair Trade Outsourcing (Rethink Staffing) (an American IT & BPM/BPO Company), Telus International, Legato Health Technologies, Asurion, Conectys, TeleTech Holdings, Inc., Crawford & Company, Savant Technologies (A non-voice KPO and BPO company), Eversun Philippines (a non voice KPO and BPO), Reed Elsevier, SPI-Global (Now Inspiro), WorldSource Inc., Vista Health Solutions, Xilium Professional Services, WNS, Hinduja Global Solutions, iXL Solution, RS2, Prosync (Process Synergy), Trusttel Customer Care, OneVirtual Global Business Solutions, Bluu Qatar Philippines, POWRD Solutions, iQor Iloilo, Accentline, Voiceless Technologies (Now Leadgen), XtendOps (Extend BPO), and Yazaki-Philippine EDS Techno Service.

The Department of Science and Technology-Information and Communications Technology Office (DOST-ICTO) and Business Processing Association of the Philippines (BPAP), has named Iloilo City as one of the next wave cities.

Iloilo City is a "City of Excellence" as it rivals the cities of Manila and Cebu in terms of economic progress. It has also a number of IT/BPO and KPO centres except than the ones in Iloilo Business Park, and among them is the Ayala Techno Hub Iloilo, Amigo Plaza Mall, SM City Iloilo and Plazuela de Iloilo.

Some of the known IT/BPO centres is Iloilo Business Park, both by Megaworld Corporation while the Iloilo City Center by the Gaisano Group has business process outsourcing (BPO) office buildings undergoing construction for future IT-BPO and KPO locators occupancy.

Shopping and retail As the shopping hub of Western Visayas, retail industry has a big relevant presence in Iloilo City since Spanish and American colonial times. Proliferated after Philippines gained Independence from United States of America.

In 1877, the first department store in the Philippines was Hoskyn Department Store started at Calle Real (or Royal Street) which stretches from Plaza Libertad to Plazoleta Gay. It was first to employ the "fixed pricing" for its commodities in merchandising. Since it was "the store that sold everything from needle to anchor", people of Iloilo and even Bacolod flocked buying from its goods such as English wool imported from England. It offered groceries, hardware, stationery, toys, watches, jewellery, machinery, buttons, threads, etc. It was described as "a great store" and "the best in the islands", Dauncey recounted how she bought "pieces of furniture, some groceries, china, glass, and so forth" from Hoskyn's "at low prices, as they have such an immense business, even being able to compete with the shops in Manila"… by Enid Rolanda Dauncey, wife of Iloilo-based British businessman Campbell Dauncey, in her 1906 memoirs "An Englishwoman in the Philippines". "It has long been a commercial landmark in the Bisayas, people call on it for everything and always get what they want", incorporated in 1925. After the World War II, Que Family acquired Hoskyns and renaimed it to " Washington Commercial " as their second store. They have "Washington Grocery" in Iznart Street. Subsequently, it was renamed "Washington Supermart".

Marymart Shopping Center opened in 1972. Henry Sy purchased land an adjacent lot in Valeria and founded the SM Iloilo now called SM Delgado, is the first SM outside Manila, which started operating in 1979 while Cebu only opened 14 years after in 1993 and Bacolod in 2007. In 1993, Jimenez family sold their property and Atrium Shopping Center was opened beside Caza Plaza Hotel. It was first shopping centre to have a combination of hotel, restobar, Saloon, Supermarket and Restaurants in the whole Philippines.

With the growing demand of consumerism and real estate, Philippine companies such as - SM Prime Holdings, Robinsons Land Corporation, Megaworld Corporation, and Ayala has fueled the popularity of mall culture in Iloilo.

SM City Iloilo by SM Prime Holdings, the largest SM Supermall in Western Visayas (one of the largest in the Philippines); Robinsons Place Iloilo and Robinsons Place Jaro - both by Robinsons Land Corporation; & by Megaworld Corporation's - Festive Walk Iloilo, the first (full-scale) Megaworld Lifestyle Mall outside Luzon and Festive Walk Parade, the longest dining strip in the Philippines.

Culture Culture and tradition play a significant role in shaping Iloilo City’s heritage. Home to numerous cultural institutions, including national museums, heritage houses, and mansions, Iloilo is sometimes referred to as the "museum city" and "city of mansions".

Culture: Museums Iloilo City hosts a wide variety of museums that cover ancient and contemporary art, cultural and economic history, and science. Artifacts predating the Spanish era—such as pottery, porcelain, gold, and plates—unearthed across Iloilo are displayed in these museums, alongside works by notable Filipino artists with roots in the region. The Western Visayas Regional Museum of the National Museum of the Philippines, housed in the restored former Iloilo Provincial Jail, showcasing artifacts from different parts of the region. Its regional headquarters is located in the refurbished old Jaro Municipal Hall. Other museums feature memorabilia of prominent figures and families, artworks, and artifacts.

Among the notable museums in Iloilo City are Museo Iloilo, the first government-built museum outside Manila, and the Museum of Philippine Economic History, housed in a restored building once owned by Ynchausti y Compania. The museum narrates the evolution of the Philippine economy and features 13 galleries with artifacts such as looms from Miag-ao, T’nalak from Mindanao, and gold accessories from Pampanga. The Museum of Philippine Maritime History, located at the Iloilo Customs House, showcases the history of maritime trade in the Philippines. The Iloilo Museum of Contemporary Art (ILOMOCA) at Casa de Emperador in Iloilo Business Park is Megaworld Corporation’s first museum project and the first in Visayas and Mindanao dedicated to modern and contemporary art. It includes five exhibit rooms, such as The Hulot Exhibit, featuring works by local and international artists like Salvador Dalí, Marc Chagall, and Joan Miró.

Other significant institutions include the Henry Luce III Museum and Library at Central Philippine University, which houses the region’s largest library and collections like the Meyer Asian Collection, Second World War documents, and UNESCO-inscribed Hinilawod Epic Chant recordings. Other museums located within universities include the University of San Agustin Museum, UPV Art Gallery, John B. Lacson Foundation Museum of Maritime Culture and Craft, and Rosendo Mejica Museum. Heritage house museums, such as Camiña Balay Nga Bato, a 19th-century ancestral home in Arevalo, and Casa Mariquit, Iloilo’s oldest-existing heritage house in Jaro, are preserved ancestral houses. Other unique museums include the Agatona 1927 Museum Café, a heritage mansion transformed into a museum café, and the Brandy Museum, the first and only museum in the Philippines dedicated to brandy, showcasing the histories of five brands under Emperador, Inc.

Festivals Iloilo’s cultural celebrations are deeply influenced by Hispanic traditions and are sometimes referred to as the "festival capital" in the Philippines. The Dinagyang Festival, held every fourth Sunday of January, honors the Santo Niño de Cebu, is one of the largest and most popular festivals in the Philippines, while the Kasadyahan Festival, the preceding Saturday, features a competition of regional festivals. The Jaro Fiesta or the Feast of Our Lady of the Candles, held February 2, is the largest Marian festival outside Luzon, honoring the Virgin of Candelaria, patron of Western Visayas, Negros Occidental, and Romblon, with pageantry, a carnival queen from wealthy Spanish-Filipino families, cockfighting at Iloilo Coliseum, and an agro-industrial fair at Jaro Plaza. The Iloilo Chinese Lunar New Year, celebrating the city’s centuries-old Chinese community, is the largest such celebration outside Manila’s Binondo, rooted in Molo’s history as the second-oldest Chinatown after Binondo. The Festival of Lights and Music at Central Philippine University, the region’s longest-running university-based Christmas festival since 1991, illuminates its 24-hectare (59-acre) Jaro campus from December to January 6 with lights, carnival rides, and bazaars. The Paraw Regatta in February, Asia’s oldest traditional sailing event, includes competitions and festivities in Arevalo. Recent additions like the Iloilo Summer Arts Festival (April–May since 2020) and the Iloilo Arts Festival (December since 2021) highlight Ilonggo visual and performing arts.

Arts Iloilo’s local government promotes the city as the "art capital" by transforming public spaces into canvases for murals and paintings depicting its history and culture, with support from local artists and real estate developers. A notable example is the 3D mural of Dinagyang warriors at Iloilo River Esplanade.

Entertainment Teatro Malhabour, recognised as the first cinema or movie house outside Manila, opened on July 3, 1908, in Iloilo. The city also houses other prominent cinema houses including Cine Palace, the oldest still-existing and operating movie theater in Iloilo, and the now-defunct Cine Eagle, both built in 1928 and located on Calle Real. Modern cinemas in the city screen a wide array of present-day films, both national and international. The Film Development Council of the Philippines has also established a cinematheque theater in the city.

The annual Iloilo Film Festival, held during Dinagyang, features a plethora of films screened during the festival. The Iloilo Convention Center is hosting international and local musical, band, and solo performances or concerts. The Rose Memorial Auditorium at Central Philippine University, the region’s largest theater, hosts events like the Bombo Music Festival and is designated as a Cultural Center of the Philippines Regional Art Center. Universities in Iloilo has also established cultural and art groups gaining recognition for performances held nationally and internationally, some of which are sponsored by national cultural government agencies. The University of San Agustin has established the USA Troubadours, while Central Philippine University is home to the CPU Bahandi Singers, the CPU Handbell Choir (the first 8-octave handbell choir in the Philippines), and the CPU Sari-Saot Dance Troupe.

Cuisine Iloilo City is recognised as a UNESCO Creative City of Gastronomy and is widely regarded as the "Food Haven of the Philippines". Its cuisine has Eastern and Western influences, shaped by the city’s central location and its historical role as a major port. Over three centuries of Spanish colonization have deeply influenced Ilonggo cuisine, introducing dishes shared with other Hispanic-influenced countries, such as menudo, afritada, lechon, adobo, and estofadong baboy. Rooted in Asian traditions, rice remains a staple, typically served plain alongside these dishes. The city is renowned for dishes like La Paz batchoy, pancit Molo, kansi, KBL (kadyos, baboy kag langka), KMU (kadyos, manok kag ubad), chicken inasal, tinuom, and laswa. A diverse range of restaurants in Iloilo also offers international cuisines, such as Italian, American, Japanese, Chinese, Vietnamese, German, and Thai, while the growth of luxury hotels has introduced high-end buffets and exclusive dining experiences. Iloilo City is also the birthplace of Mang Inasal, the country’s first fast-food chain serving chicken inasal, founded in 2003 by Edgar Sia. From its origins in Iloilo, Mang Inasal has expanded nationwide.

Spanish influence also introduced baking traditions to Iloilo, leading to the establishment of historic bakeries still operating today, including Panaderia ni Paa, established in the 1900s, and Deocampo: The Original Barquillos, founded in the 1800s, both located in Jaro, as well as Panaderia de Molo, also founded in the 1800s, in Molo. The bakeries are known for sweet delicacies such as barquillos, thin rolled cookies, and biscocho, hardened baked bread slices coated with milk and margarine.

Sport The Iloilo City Sports Office oversees sports activities in Iloilo City, organizing competitions among its seven districts. The Iloilo City Inter-District Basketball Tournament includes teams from Arevalo, Molo, Mandurriao, City Proper, La Paz, Jaro, and Lapuz. The Iloilo City Basketball Club (ICBC) organizes basketball for organizations and companies in the city. The Iloilo Sports Complex in La Paz has a 7,000-seat stadium, an Olympic-size swimming pool, a running track, a football field, and courts for volleyball, basketball, tennis, and badminton, with an indoor gymnasium. The Iloilo City Sports Center at Jalandoni Memorial National High School in Lapuz, began development in 2021 for the Iloilo City Sports Academy.

Iloilo City has three professional sports teams. Kaya F.C.–Iloilo competes in the Philippines Football League (PFL), AFC Champions League, and AFC Cup, using the Iloilo Sports Complex as its home venue. D'Navigators Iloilo competes in the Spikers' Turf. Kaya Women's Futbol competes in the PFF Women’s League.

Media Iloilo City’s media include English tabloids like Panay News, The Daily Guardian, News Express, and Sunstar Iloilo, with Hublas of Panay News as the sole Hiligaynon tabloid, and Cream Magazine, a glossy lifestyle publication since 1989. Bombo Radyo Philippines, one of the largest radio network stations, was founded in Iloilo City in 1966. Television began with DYAF-TV in 1964, evolving into ABS-CBN’s TV Patrol Panay on Channel 10 by 1998; GMA’s TV-6 Iloilo (now Channel 7) started in 1967, upgrading in 1998; and other stations like PTV (1992), IBC (1977), GMA News TV (2010), and TV5 Iloilo (2012). RMN’s BEAM TV 26, relaunched in 2010 with digital broadcasting by 2012.

Government Iloilo City serves as both the regional capital of Western Visayas and the provincial capital of Iloilo Province, functioning as a key economic centre in the Philippines. Classified as a first-income-class, highly urbanized city (HUC), it hosts regional and provincial offices of national government agencies and operates independently from the province of Iloilo, meaning its residents cannot vote for provincial officials.

The city is governed by the Mayor of Iloilo City, the chief executive, assisted by a vice mayor, and represented by a lone congressman in the House of Representatives. The Iloilo City Council, a 15-member legislative body, is elected during general elections alongside the mayor and vice mayor, convening monthly at Iloilo City Hall in sessions open to the public, with decisions typically prepared by various boards and committees. The city is subdivided into 180 barangays, each led by a barangay captain elected in national barangay elections, and each of the city's seven districts has a district president elected from among its barangay captains for the Association of Barangay Captains (ABC).

Transport: Land Major roads in Iloilo City include Benigno S. Aquino Jr. Avenue (Diversion Road), McArthur Drive, General Luna Street, Avanceña Street, E. Lopez Street, Pres. Corazon C. Aquino Avenue (Circumferential Road 1), Iznart Street, and Muelle Loney Street. Benigno S. Aquino Jr. Avenue, an eight-lane main road with a protected bike lane and two-lane service road, connects Iloilo City to Pavia, Santa Barbara, and Iloilo International Airport. Passenger jeepneys—distinctive for their sleek, sedan-like "passad" design—white metered taxis, and tricycles dominate city travel, with jeepneys serving fixed routes on major and secondary roads and tricycles covering community streets. Large passad jeepneys, buses, and mini-shuttle vans link Iloilo City to the broader province, Panay, and beyond via roll-on, roll-off (RO-RO) ferry services of the Strong Republic Nautical Highway, reaching Metro Manila, Mindoro, Batangas, Cebu, Negros and Mindanao.

Iloilo City is among the first cities to adopt mini-bus-like modern public utility jeepneys (PUJs) in contrast to the national phase-out of older jeepneys under President Rodrigo Duterte’s administration. In March 2019, the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) launched a Premium Point-to-Point (P2P) Bus Service, offering express routes to airports in Cabatuan, Kalibo, and Caticlan (Boracay). A bus rapid transit (BRT) system is also being proposed for travel between Iloilo City and the international airport, as well as other parts in the metropolitan area.

There are six integrated transport system (ITS) terminals in the city: the Iloilo North ITS Terminal (North Ceres Bus Terminal) in Tagbak, Jaro, serves north-western Iloilo, Passi City, and north-western Panay (Capiz, Aklan, Boracay); the Iloilo Central Line ITS Terminal (Pavia People's Terminal) in Ungka, Jaro, connects central Iloilo; the Aleosan ITS Terminal in Hibao-an, Mandurriao, links upland areas like San Miguel, Alimodian, and Leon (including Bucari); the Iloilo South ITS Terminal (South Ceres Bus Terminal) in Mohon, Arevalo, covers southern Iloilo and Antique; the Iloilo North Coast ITS Terminal in Ticud, La Paz, reaches northern coastal towns like Carles (Sicogon Island, Islas de Gigantes); and the Festive Walk Transport Hub in Mandurriao, within Iloilo Business Park, provides a modern transit point for passengers within the city and nearby areas.

Iloilo City is widely known as the "Bicycling Capital of the Philippines" through the collaborative efforts of local and national governments, as well as stakeholders, to promote bike-friendly infrastructure. The city boasts nearly 100 km (62 mi) of bicycle lanes, with the longest along Diversion Road. Most sections of the Iloilo River Esplanade also serve as dedicated bicycle lanes. In 2019, the Dutch government partnered with Iloilo City to improve its cycling infrastructure.

Transport: Air Iloilo International Airport, the fifth-busiest in the Philippines, is the major airport serving Iloilo City. It is 19 km (12 miles) north-west of the city in Cabatuan on a 188 hectares (460 acres) site. It was opened to commercial traffic on June 14, 2007, replacing the old Iloilo Airport in Mandurriao. The new airport inherited its IATA and ICAO airport codes. It is linked to the city through Benigno S. Aquino Jr. Avenue and served by metered taxis, airport shuttle vans, multicabs, and P2P buses. The privatization of the airport is in the pipeline, with Filipino billionaire Manny Villar’s Prime Asset Venture Incorporated (PAVI) as the proponent with the largest proposed budget at ₱20 billion.

Sea The Port of Iloilo, a primary seaport in the central Philippines, is located on Panay’s south coast along the Panay Gulf. It comprises several major facilities, including the Iloilo Commercial Port Complex (ICPC), which occupies 20.8 hectares of reclaimed land. In 2024, International Container Terminal Services, Inc. (ICTSI) secured a 25-year deal to develop and manage the ICPC, renaming it the Visayas Container Terminal (VCT). The Iloilo Domestic Port Complex (IDPC), near Fort San Pedro, handles ferries to other islands. Muelle Loney, opened in 1855, now accommodates smaller ships and fast ferries to nearby islands. The Port of Iloilo ranks third in ship visits (11,853), fourth in cargo volume (491,719 million metric tons), and fourth in passenger traffic (2.4 million) annually.

The ferry port in Parola, City Proper, uses small boats to connect to Guimaras. Roll-on, roll-off (RO-RO) ferries also serve nearby islands. The Iloilo Fish Port Complex (IFPC) in City Proper, spanning 21 hectares, is the main fish trading hub in the Visayas, supplying stores, hotels, and markets locally and internationally. In March 2022, it received ₱570 million to develop a fish plant, canning area, and new energy source.

Transport: Rail The railway system on the island of Panay, operated by Panay Railways, originally ran from Muelle Loney Wharf along the Iloilo River to Roxas City in Capiz. It operated for nearly 80 years, beginning in 1907, but ceased operations in the 1980s due to mounting losses and cash flow problems. Since its closure, there have been multiple proposals to revive the railway system. In 2022, Panay Railways announced its openness to foreign ownership as part of efforts to reconstruct its former train lines. The proposed revival aims to reconnect major cities in Panay, including Iloilo City, Roxas City, and potentially extend the system to Caticlan (Boracay) in Malay, Aklan.

Utilities Iloilo City gets its power from two big plants in Ingore, La Paz. The Panay Power Corporation runs a 72 megawatts (MW) diesel fuel power plant, and the Panay Energy Development Corporation (PEDC) runs a 164 MW coal power plant. PEDC also plans for a third coal plant to the existing 164 MW setup, which will make an extra 150 MW, bringing the total to 404 MW for Panay and Guimaras islands.

For a long time, the Panay Electric Company (PECO) handled power distribution in Iloilo City since 1923, making it one of the oldest private electric power companies in the Philippines. However, in 2019, MORE Electric and Power Corporation (MORE Power), owned by Spanish-Filipino billionaire Enrique K. Razon, has taken over and became the new sole power distribution company in the city. Since then, it introduced modern power services in the city, including the installation of an underground cabling system.

Metro Pacific Iloilo Water (MPIW) is the city’s sole water supplier. It was established as a joint venture of Metro Pacific Water (MPW) and Metro Iloilo Water District (MIWD) to improve clean water supply for Iloilo City and as well as the whole Iloilo metropolitan area. In 2025, MPW began construction of the Iloilo Desalination Plant, which is set to become the largest desalination facility in the Philippines. The city has also begun constructing a new integrated solid waste management facility in Ingore, La Paz as the sanitary landfill in Calahunan, Mandurriao, which has served Iloilo City for years, is nearing the end of its lifespan and is expected to reach full capacity by 2026.

Healthcare The Iloilo City Health Office, in collaboration with the Department of Health (DOH), oversees the planning and implementation of city government healthcare programs, including free immunizations for children targeting seven major diseases: smallpox, diphtheria, tetanus, yellow fever, whooping cough, polio, and measles. The city operates health centres in its barangays under the City Health Office’s supervision.

Three government-run hospitals serve the city: West Visayas State University Medical Center (WVSUMC), Western Visayas Medical Center (WVMC), and the under-construction Iloilo City Hospital (ICH). WVSUMC, commonly known as Don Benito, managed by West Visayas State University, primarily caters to indigent patients and hosts DOH auxiliary centres like the WVSU/DOH Regional Cancer Center, with a 10-story WVSU/DOH Regional Lung and Heart Center in development. WVMC, the region’s largest referral public hospital operated by the DOH, features a six-story heart and lung specialty building, a three-story dialysis unit, a two-story main building with administrative and emergency services, and a five-to-six-story annex. ICH, under construction in San Pedro, Molo, is a city government initiative to meet the healthcare needs of indigent residents, comprising a five-story main hall, a medical arts building, and the USWAG Iloilo City Molecular Laboratory.

Some of the private and church-affiliated hospitals in the city are CPU–Iloilo Mission Hospital (IMH), founded in 1901 by Presbyterian missionary Joseph Andrew Hall as the first Protestant and American hospital in the Philippines, pioneered nursing education with the Union Mission Hospital Training School for Nurses in 1906 (now Central Philippine University College of Nursing), producing the country’s first nursing graduates and top board performers. It serves as CPU’s university hospital. St. Paul’s Hospital Iloilo (SPH Iloilo), established in 1911 by French Catholic missionaries with American Catholic support, is the oldest Daughters of Saint Paul of Chartres hospital in the Philippines and an affiliate of St. Paul University Iloilo. Both are heritage healthcare institutions.

Other private facilities include The Medical City-Iloilo (TMC Iloilo), the first TMC hospital in Visayas and Mindanao, and Healthway QualiMed Hospital Iloilo (HQHI), formerly QualiMed Hospital Iloilo, the first Ayala Corporation hospital outside Luzon, both equipped with state-of-the-art technology. Additional private hospitals are Metro Iloilo Hospital and Medical Center (MIHMC), Medicus Medical Center (MMC), Iloilo Doctors’ Hospital (IDH), Medicus Cancer Institute (MCI), Asia Pacific Medical Center–Iloilo (APMC Iloilo), Seamen’s AMEOSUP Hospital, and the under-construction Supercare Medical Services/Center. Notable maternity centres include the La Paz Maternity and Reproductive Health Center (LMRHC) and CPU Birthing Center.

Education Iloilo City serves as the primary educational hub of the Western Visayas region, with the city and province of Iloilo collectively hosting ten prominent universities. The city itself is home to eight higher education institutions. • Central Philippine University (1905) was established in through the efforts of American Baptists, supported by a grant from American industrialist and philanthropist John D. Rockefeller. It holds the distinction of being the first Baptist-founded university and the second American and Protestant-established university in the Philippines and Asia. Recognized as a leading institution in Western Visayas, CPU has earned accolades from the Commission on Higher Education (CHED) and is consistently listed in top Asian and global university rankings by Quacquarelli Symonds, Times Higher Education, and AppliedHE (2023). The university has been designated by the Commission on Higher Education (Philippines) as National Centers of Excellence in Agriculture and Business Administration and National Centers of Development in Chemical Engineering, Electronics Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, and Teacher Education. Its nursing school, founded in 1906 as the Union Mission Hospital Training School for Nurses, is the first nursing school in the Philippines; CPU Republic, first student government in Southeast Asia; the CPU College of Agriculture, Resources, and Environmental Sciences, the first government-recognized agricultural school outside Luzon; and its university hospital, Iloilo Mission Hospital, the country’s first American and Protestant hospital. • The University of San Agustin (1904) was founded by Spanish Augustinians. It is the first Augustinian university in Asia and the Pacific and achieved university status in March 1953, marking it as the first university in Western Visayas. • St. Paul University Iloilo (1946) was established by American Catholics with assistance from the French Sisters of St. Paul of Chartres, and operates as part of the St. Paul University System • University of Iloilo (1947) was initially founded by the Lopez family and is now managed by the PHINMA Education Network • John B. Lacson Foundation Maritime University (1948) was established by Juan Bautista Lacson and is the first maritime university in the Philippines.

Three government-owned universities operate in Iloilo City: • University of the Philippines Visayas (1947) is an autonomous unit of the University of the Philippines System, maintaining a satellite campus in Iloilo City where the old Iloilo City Hall now serves as its administration building and art gallery, with its main campus in Miag-ao, Iloilo, and has been designated by CHED as a Center of Excellence in Chemistry • West Visayas State University (1902) was formally established under the guidance of American Thomasites within the Philippine Normal School system, and is recognised by CHED as a Center of Excellence in Teacher Education and a Center of Development in Nursing • Iloilo Science and Technology University (1905) was founded as a trade school by Americans succeeding a Spanish-era arts and trade school, holding a CHED Center of Development in Teacher Education.

Beyond these, a new campus of National University (1900) is under construction next to SM City Iloilo in Mandurriao. The Ateneo Graduate School of Business, part of Ateneo de Manila University (1859), operates a satellite campus at Ateneo de Iloilo (1958), offering a Master of Business Administration (MBA) program as a step toward establishing a full university. Philippine Christian University (1946) and Guimaras State University (1964) also maintain smaller extension programs in the city.

The Iloilo City Community College (ICCC), administered by the city government in collaboration with CHED. Additionally, Iloilo City hosts numerous private colleges and schools, including Iloilo Doctors' College (1972), Westbridge School for Boys (PAREF), St. Therese – MTC Colleges, Western Institute of Technology (1964), and religious institutions such as Ateneo de Iloilo, Angelicum School Iloilo (1978), and Colegio de San Jose (1872)—the oldest girls’ school in Western Visayas. Religious training centres like St. Joseph Regional Seminary, St. Vincent Ferrer Seminary (1869), and Mill Hill Formation House. The Department of Education – Division of Iloilo City oversees 88 private schools and 52 public schools.