Iloilo City Hall

The Iloilo City Hall is an architectural landmark framing Plaza Libertad in Iloilo City Proper. Opened in August 2011 to replace the old municipal building (which now serves as part of the University of the Philippines Visayas campus), it achieved recognition as the first green building in the entire Visayas region. The structure utilizes pioneering eco-friendly technologies, including a comprehensive solar-powered energy grid for its executive offices, a sophisticated rainwater harvesting and recycling system, and a lushly landscaped rooftop garden that naturally cools the complex while softening urban heat.

Architecturally, the building is an eclectic triumph that bridges local history and forward-looking functionality by seamlessly blending Neoclassical and Art Deco styles. Its design draws direct inspiration from nearby heritage buildings, boasting high ceilings, uniformly arched windows, and a majestic central dome. Standing proudly atop this dome is the Lin-ay sang Iloilo (Lady of Iloilo), an 18-foot bronze statue sculpted by renowned local artist Ed Defensor. Modeled after the "Lady of Freedom" on the U.S. Capitol building, she holds a stalk of rice and stands as a commanding civic symbol of prosperity, hope, and peace for the Ilonggo people.