Iloilo City Council Members (Sangguniang Panlungsod) [INFOGRAPHICS]

Iloilo City Council (Sangguniang Panlungsod) is the local legislative body of Iloilo City in the Philippines. The legislative body is composed of 14 councilors, with 12 councilors elected from the lone district of Iloilo City and two ex-officio members elected from the ranks of barangay chairmen (Liga ng mga Barangay President) and the Sangguniang Kabataan (Sangguniang Kabataan Federation President). The elected vice mayor serves as the presiding officer.

Powers and Functions of the Sangguniang Panlungsod

The Local Government Code of 1991 governs the composition, powers, and functions of the Sangguniang Panlungsod. The Sangguniang Panlungsod is mandated by the law to have the following powers, duties, and functions:

• approve ordinances and resolutions;
• generate and maximize the use of resources and revenues for the development plans, program objectives, and priorities of the city;
• enact ordinances granting franchises and authorizing the issuance of permits or licenses, subject to the provisions of Book II of the Local Government Code of 1991;
• regulate activities relative to the use of land, buildings, and structures within the city;
• approve ordinances which shall ensure the efficient and effective delivery of the essential services and facilities as provided for under Section 17 of the Local Government Code; and
• exercise such other powers and perform such other duties and functions as may be prescribed by law or ordinance

Iloilo City Council Members

For Iloilo City, the current head of the Sangguniang Panlungsod is Hon. Vice Mayor Jeffrey Ganzon. The members are the following:

Hon. City Councilor Sedfrey Cabaluna

Hon. City Councilor Jose Maria Miguel Trenas

Hon. City Councilor Alan Zaldivar

Hon. City Councilor Frances Grace Parcon-Torres

Hon. City Councilor Urminico Baronda Jr.

Hon. City Councilor Rudolph Jeffrey Ganzon

Hon. City Councilor Rex Marcus Sarabia

Hon. City Councilor Candice Magdalane Tupas

Hon. City Councilor Johnny Young

Hon. City Councilor Romel Duron

Hon. City Councilor Ely Estante Jr.

Hon. City Councilor Sumakwel Nava Jr.

On February 7, 2024, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., approved the appointment of Sumakwel Nava Jr. as Iloilo City Councilor. He will replace his brother, Plaridel Nava, who resigned as city councilor.

Hon. Nava is a banker, and the son of former Libertad Lapuz Punong Barangay, Sumakwel Nava Sr. He pledges to serve as a vigilant fiscalizer, and aims to support the administration’s programs, ensuring the general welfare.

Hon. SK Federation President Jelma Crystel Implica

Hon. Liga ng mga Barangay President Irene Ong

Iloilo City Council Committee Chairpersons

Hon. Frances Grace V. Parcon

Majority Floor Leader

Committee Chairmanships (2022-2025)

1. Committee on Rules, Ordinances, Resolutions, Style, Justice, and Legal Affairs

Shall take charge of all matters relative to house rules and procedure of the Sangguniang Panlungsod; all matters relating to the legality and style of proposed ordinances or measures, matters relating to the legality of leases, contracts, donations, or exchanges of properties affecting the City Government; shall also take charge on all matters relating to the courts, prosecutors, officers and all other offices connected with the administration of justice and all cases that may involve the City Government.

2. Committee on Agriculture, fisheries, Aquatic and Natural Resources

All matters relating to agriculture, food production, security, and agribusiness; agricultural economics and research; soil survey and conservation; agricultural development and extension services; animal industry and livestock quarantine farm credit facilities; fisheries and aquatic resources, and the enforcement of laws against illegal fishing; utilization of water, mineral and other natural resources.

3. Committee on Women and Family Relations

Matters related to the protection and equal treatment of women, development, and enhancement of women’s welfare and enabling them to the realization of their full potential in the service of the country’s solidarity and development of the family as a basic social institution; responsible parenthood, rights of children and rights of families.

Hon. Rex Marcus Sarabia

Assistant Majority Floor Leader

Committee Chairmanships (2022-2025)

1. Committee on Personnel, Good Government, and Public Accountability & Oversight (Blue Ribbon Committee)

Shall take charge of all matters relating to aspects of good governance, management of offices, personnel, and appointments, and streamlining of procedures in the City Government as well as investigation of anomalies, graft, and corruption in the City Government; all matters relating to investigation of malfeasance, misfeasance, and non-feasance in office by officers and employees of the City Government.

2. Committee on Appropriation

Shall take charge of all matters relative to all funds for expenditures of the City Government for payment of public indebtedness, claims against the government, appropriation of funds, and general adjustments relating to budget and public expenditures.

Hon. Ma. Irene D. Ong

Committee Chairmanships (2022-2025)

1. Committee on Ways and Means

Matters related to revenues, taxes and fees, revisions of tax measures, income generation and other forms of revenue, appraisal, evaluation, and determination, and the value of the real and personal property for taxation purposes.

2. Committee on Barangay Affairs and Community Development

All matters relating to the operation and maintenance of barangay government units as well as the organization and maintenance of barangay tanods and all other matters affecting the interest of the barangay and its officials.

3. Committee on Veterans, Retirees, Elderly and Disabled Persons

Matters affecting veterans, civilian and military retirees, disabled/handicapped persons, aged, paupers, a person of unsound mind, and elderly; development of their skills and human resourcefulness to uplift their socio-economic conditions or standard of living and for them to gain self-confidence, respect, and dignity.

Hon. Johnny Y. Young

Committee Chairmanships (2022-2025)

1. Committee on Engineering, Construction, and Public Works

Shall take charge of all matters relating to construction, maintenance, and repair of public offices, streets, bridges, parks, monuments, playgrounds, and other structures; shall take charge of all foreign, nationally-funded, and BOT and Legally Joint Ventures/PPF projects undertaken by the City Government.

2. Committee on Moral Recovery

Shall take charge of all matters relating to religious and social issues that could affect the improvement and/or degradation of public morals of the city residents such as pornography, prostitution, gambling, and the like.

Hon. Sedfrey Cabaluna

Committee Chairmanships (2022-2025)

1. Committee on Transportation

Shall take charge of all matters related to traffic, transportation, and operation of public and private vehicles, such as but not limited to public utility vehicles, tourist buses, vans, shuttle services, and other modes of public utility services, a franchise of which was duly issued by the Land Transportation and Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB); all matters related to motorized and peddled tricycle, motorized bancas and other water transport services and other means of transportation; all matters regarding parking spaces, loading/unloading areas, public transport terminals in the city, study the establishment of routes of public utility vehicles within the jurisdiction of the city.

2. Committee on Police, Fire, Penology, Public Safety, Order, Security, Dangerous Drugs and Rehabilitation

Shall take charge of all matters relating to the maintenance of public order and security, civil defense, liaison with Philippine National Police and all other law enforcement agencies; maintenance of the city jails and other correctional agencies; matters regarding fire, accidents, and crime prevention and Disaster Risk Management; matters related to drug abuse, drug trafficking and rehabilitation of drug dependents.

“As partners in the legislative branch and executive branch in the national and local governments we are one in a job of not only uplifting our people from this pandemic but also creating opportunities for them to enjoy genuine empowerment, strengthened government support in education, health, agriculture, tourism, and social services,” said Senator Juan Miguel Zubiri. He officiated the swearing-in ceremony of elected local officials of Iloilo City.