ILOILO City Mayor Raisa Treñas delivers her first ever State-of-the-City Address (SOCA) on Oct. 8, 2025. (Iloilo City PIO)
Neophyte Iloilo City Mayor Raisa Treñas, the daughter of former Mayor Jerry Treñas, has drawn flak for shouting several times in her first-ever State-of-the-City Address (SOCA).
“It was never about politics!” a visibly angry Treñas said with a high-pitched voice on Wednesday, Oct. 8.
Mayor Raisa – who never had any experience as an elective official prior to replacing her father last June – claimed the “campaign was never about winning” and it’s about the “people.”
She was shouting when she borrowed the phrase of President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. that her administration will go after those accountable for “palpak”(sloppy) and delayed flood control projects.
“Dapat may manabat! (Someone has to be accountable!)” Mayor Raisa shouted.
While Mayor Raisa reported her accomplishments for her first 100 days and the plan of her administration, many Ilonggos were taken aback with her public demeanor.
“Mayor, unsolicited advice. Your tone sets the tone. Your tone was definitely not the tone of a visionary leader, but an angry person who wants to prove something even though the facts are obvious,” wrote one concerned citizen.
Members of the academe suggested that Mayor Raisa should learn the basic principles of effective public speaking and communicating the message to the citizenry.
This was not the first time Mayor Raisa was visibly angry in public.
Last Aug. 18, Mayor Raisa blew her top in an interview with the media.
At that time, she was doubling down on her claim that a 300-percent real property tax (RPT) increase had nothing to do with the rise of inflation rate or closures of local businesses.