Frederick “Freddie” W. Siao is the mayor of Iligan City, serving his second consecutive term after winning the city’s 2022 and 2025 mayoral elections.
Before becoming mayor, he spent six years in city sports administration, six years as an Iligan City councilor and six years representing the city’s lone congressional district. His career therefore crosses four distinct areas of government: administration, local legislation, national lawmaking and citywide executive leadership.
This guide brings those stages together in one public-reference page. It covers Siao’s background, elections, legislative work, documented city-government results, current priorities and the unresolved issues by which his second mayoral term may ultimately be judged.
Mayor Freddie Siao Quick Facts
| Detail | Verified information |
|---|---|
| Full name | Frederick W. Siao |
| Common name | Freddie Siao |
| Date of birth | November 29, 1966 |
| Place raised | Iligan City |
| Current position | Mayor of Iligan City |
| First elected mayor | 2022 |
| Reelected mayor | 2025 |
| Current term | June 30, 2025 to June 30, 2028 |
| Previous positions | City sports director, city councilor and representative of Iligan City’s lone district |
| Undergraduate degree | BS Business Administration, Major in Management |
| Graduate degree | Master of Public Administration |
| Mayor’s office | Buhanginan Hills, Pala-o, Iligan City |
| Public office email | cmo@iligan.gov.ph |
Siao’s official biography identifies him as a native Iliganon who has served as mayor since 2022. The same source lists his birth date, education and prior government positions. Because that biography is published through his own website, claims about personal history and self-reported accomplishments are identified as such and checked against independent government records where available.
Who Is Frederick “Freddie” Siao?
Frederick W. Siao was born on November 29, 1966 and raised in Iligan City. His official biography says he completed his elementary and secondary education at Lanao Chung Hua High School. He later earned a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration, Major in Management, from the University of Santo Tomas and a Master of Public Administration from Bukidnon State University.
His biography also lists participation in two leadership-development programs:
- Mindanao Bridging Leaders Program at the Asian Institute of Management in 2012
- Emerging Leaders Program at Harvard Kennedy School in 2019
These should be described as leadership or executive-development programs, not as additional college degrees.
Siao’s published biography says he is married to Maria Teresa Padilla-Siao and has three children. Family details are included here only because they appear in his publicly released official biography and are part of his established public profile.
Frederick Siao’s Political Career at a Glance
| Year | Position or milestone |
|---|---|
| 2004 | Appointed Iligan City sports director |
| 2004–2010 | Served in city sports administration |
| 2010 | Elected Iligan City councilor |
| 2010–2016 | Served two terms on the City Council |
| 2016 | Elected representative of Iligan City’s lone district |
| 2019 | Reelected to the House of Representatives |
| 2016–2022 | Served two congressional terms |
| May 2022 | Elected mayor of Iligan City |
| June 30, 2022 | Began first mayoral term |
| August 2024 | Delivered a State of Iligan City Address reporting city accomplishments |
| May 2025 | Reelected mayor |
| June 30, 2025 | Began second mayoral term |
| 2025–2028 | Current term |
Entry Into Public Service as Iligan City Sports Director
2004–2010
Siao’s first documented government position was Iligan City sports director, an appointed post he held for six years.
His official biography says he helped strengthen the city’s presence in regional and national competitions. However, a complete public record of annual budgets, medal counts, tournament results, athlete numbers or facilities completed during his tenure was not found in the sources reviewed. Those specific outcomes should not be invented or assumed.
The role nevertheless placed him inside city government and required coordination with athletes, coaches, schools, sports organizations and local officials. It also established the sports-development thread that continues into his current agenda, particularly the proposed Iligan Sports and Events Center.
Frederick Siao as Iligan City Councilor
2010–2016
Siao was elected to the Iligan City Council in 2010 and served for two consecutive terms.
His official biography states that he passed or sponsored 37 ordinances and 175 resolutions during those six years. One measure specifically connected to him is the Revised Iligan City Investment, Incentives and Promotions Code.
The code formed part of the city’s framework for attracting investment and supporting business activity. Siao’s website associates it with major developments entering Iligan, but private investments ordinarily depend on many elements, including market demand, financing, property availability, infrastructure, permits and decisions made by several public and private institutions.
It is therefore accurate to say that investment policy was part of Siao’s legislative record. It would be too broad to credit one official alone for a private commercial development.
His years as councilor provided experience in:
- Drafting and reviewing ordinances
- Approving local budgets
- Committee hearings
- Barangay concerns
- Business and investment policy
- Oversight of city programs
- Negotiation within a multi-member legislative body
After two council terms, Siao moved from local legislation to national office.
Frederick Siao as Iligan City Congressman
2016–2022
Siao was elected representative of Iligan City’s lone congressional district in 2016 and won a second term in 2019.
The Senate Legislative Reference Bureau lists numerous bills associated with him during the 17th and 18th Congresses. His legislative record included measures related to Iligan’s barangays, health services, education, tourism, environmental protection, infrastructure and economic development.
Readers can review the official bill index through the Senate Legislative Reference Bureau.
Selected Iligan-focused measures
Among the proposals recorded under Siao’s name were measures concerning:
- Creation of additional Iligan barangays
- An Iligan General Hospital
- A College of Medicine at MSU-IIT
- A separate district engineering office for Iligan
- The NSC Special Economic Zone
- The Timoga Ecotourism Zone
- An Iligan tourism-development area
- A mining-free zone
- Local environmental protection
- Araw ng Iligan as a special non-working holiday
- Upgrading the Iligan City National School of Fisheries
- Infrastructure and public-facility proposals
The legislative database confirms that these measures were formally filed or associated with Siao. It does not mean every proposal became law or was fully implemented.
An Enacted Law: Republic Act No. 11902
One of the clearest enacted results connected to Siao’s congressional record is Republic Act No. 11902.
The law created the following barangays in Iligan City:
- Acmac-Mariano Badelles Sr.
- Ditucalan
- San Roque
- Luinab
- Upper Hinaplanon
- Ubaldo Laya
The originating House measure was House Bill No. 7775, and the legislative record identifies Siao as an author. Republic Act No. 11902 was approved on July 28, 2022.
The clean distinction matters: this was not merely a filed proposal. It completed the legislative process and became national law.
Read the enacted law through Lawphil.
Proposed Measures That Should Not Be Described as Completed Projects
Several proposals associated with Siao addressed large institutions or developments. These include an Iligan General Hospital, an MSU-IIT College of Medicine, an international convention center and an economic zone at the former National Steel Corporation property.
Their inclusion in the official legislative index verifies that legislative action was taken. It does not, by itself, confirm construction, final funding or operation.
A public proposal may move through several stages:
- Concept announced
- Bill filed
- Committee review
- Approval by one chamber
- Approval by Congress
- Presidential action
- Budget appropriation
- Release of funds
- Procurement
- Construction or implementation
- Completion
- Full operation
A strong public record should always identify which step was actually reached.
Infrastructure Advocacy During Siao’s Congressional Years
Siao’s official biography connects his congressional period with the Mandulog River Esplanade and improvements to the former Tambacan wooden bridge.
The website says the old bridge was replaced by a fortified steel bridge with lighting and describes the Mandulog River Esplanade as a project realized in 2021. Since public infrastructure normally involves appropriations, implementing agencies, engineers, contractors and city coordination, the safest wording is that Siao supported or helped advance the projects.
His biography also identifies longer-term ambitions involving:
- A sports complex
- An international convention center
- A general hospital
- A special economic zone
- Expanded educational institutions
- Stronger local economic activity
Some remain policy goals or proposals rather than completed facilities.
Frederick Siao’s 2022 Campaign for Mayor
After two terms in Congress, Siao ran for Iligan City mayor in the May 9, 2022 elections.
The City Board of Canvassers proclaimed him the winner after he received 81,205 votes. His principal opponent, then Vice Mayor Jemar Vera Cruz, received 52,766 votes, giving Siao a lead of 28,439 votes.
A total of 154,734 people voted out of Iligan’s 185,452 registered voters, based on figures reported after the canvass. Marianito “Dodong” Alemania won as vice mayor.
2022 mayoral result
| Candidate | Votes |
|---|---|
| Frederick Siao | 81,205 |
| Jemar Vera Cruz | 52,766 |
| Winning margin | 28,439 |
The result moved Siao from the legislative branch into an executive office responsible for city departments, procurement, budget implementation, local services and emergency administration.
Beginning His First Term as Mayor
Siao and Iligan’s other newly elected officials took their oaths at Rizal Park on June 30, 2022.
During his inaugural address, he said he intended to serve residents regardless of political affiliation or barangay. He introduced Iligan Development Goals focused on public health, business conditions, water supply and inclusive governance.
Those priorities were significant because health services, water and business processing affect residents directly. They are also areas where progress can be evaluated through measurable outcomes rather than slogans.
Documented Results Reported During Siao’s First Term
In August 2024, Siao delivered a State of Iligan City Address covering governance, agriculture, health, housing, environmental programs and infrastructure.
The reported achievements should be understood as the work of the city government as a whole. They involved the mayor’s office, the City Council, city departments, barangays, national agencies, civil-society partners and public employees.
Governance and business processing
The city received national recognition from the Anti-Red Tape Authority for ease of doing business and the efficient issuance of business permits.
Iligan was also reported as the country’s third most improved city, with the following placements:
| Competitiveness indicator | National placement reported |
|---|---|
| Economic dynamism | 21st |
| Innovation | 16th |
| Government efficiency | 28th |
The city government also reported a 100% resolution rate for complaints transmitted through Citizens’ Complaint Center 8888 during the previous two years.
Agriculture and fisheries
The city reported registering 11,550 farmers and fisherfolk in the Registry System for Basic Sectors in Agriculture.
More than 9,000 beneficiaries reportedly received farm or fishery inputs, while production loans and grants totaled approximately ₱1.8 million.
Registration matters because inclusion in the national agricultural database can help eligible farmers and fisherfolk access government assistance, insurance and support programs.
Health and nutrition
The city reported increasing the number of doctors and nurses and strengthening its health-service system.
The City Health Office was recognized as a leading performer in Northern Mindanao under the National Tuberculosis Program. It also received a Bronze Award for efforts addressing childhood stunting.
PIA also reported the construction of super health centers in Barangays Kabacsanan and Del Carmen. The facilities should be evaluated according to their completion, staffing, services and actual operating status rather than construction announcements alone.
Housing and youth development
The Friends Working Together for Shelter program was reported to have helped 100 indigent families.
Iligan also received recognition at the Philippine Young Leaders’ Convergence, including an award for its local youth development office.
Solid-waste management
The city acquired a thermal-decomposition machine reported to divert as much as five tons of residual waste per day.
A biocomposter and bioshredder were also deployed to process approximately 600 kilograms of biodegradable public-market waste.
These numbers represent reported capacity or output. Long-term performance still depends on:
- Actual daily processing volume
- Equipment reliability
- Maintenance costs
- Household segregation
- Waste-collection coverage
- Environmental compliance
- Disposal of materials that cannot be processed
Mangrove rehabilitation
The city reported expanding its mangrove plantation area by 15 hectares, exceeding its original target.
The more meaningful long-term measure will be the survival and health of the planted mangroves, not only the initial area covered.
Roads, drainage and public facilities
The 2024 city report listed:
- 56 completed projects under the 20% Development Fund
- 4,626.2 linear meters of roads with side drainage
- 15,367.8 linear meters of dredging and declogging
- Approximately ₱815.6 million in implemented projects
The 56 projects reportedly included roads, barangay gymnasiums and health centers.
Residents evaluating a specific project should check its location, approved budget, contractor, procurement documents, completion report and present condition.
The 2025 Iligan City Mayoral Election
Siao sought a second consecutive term in the May 12, 2025 elections.
ABS-CBN’s Halalan results page, which describes its figures as partial and unofficial results aggregated from Commission on Elections data, published these totals:
| Candidate | Published votes |
|---|---|
| Frederick Siao | 73,095 |
| Leony Roy Ga | 66,894 |
| Franklin Quijano | 10,283 |
| Rolando Anduyan | 4,097 |
Based on these published figures, Siao led Ga by 6,201 votes.
View the result through ABS-CBN Halalan.
Comparing Siao’s two mayoral victories
| Election | Siao’s votes | Lead over closest rival |
|---|---|---|
| 2022 | 81,205 | 28,439 |
| 2025 | 73,095 | 6,201 |
The 2025 contest was much closer than the 2022 election. That is a factual comparison of the reported vote totals, not an explanation of why individual voters made their choices.
The City Board of Canvassers officially proclaimed Siao on May 13, 2025. PIA reported that he recommitted his administration to 15 Priority Development Goals, including continued work on water, waste management, health services and completion of the Pala-o Market project.
Iligan’s Politically Mixed Leadership After the 2025 Election
The 2025 election did not place every major Iligan office under one local political group.
Ernest Oliver “Wekwek” Uy won the vice mayoralty, while Celso Regencia retained the city’s congressional seat. Nine proclaimed councilors were identified with Siao’s Asenso Iliganon Party and three with the United Iligan Party.
This structure matters because the mayor does not govern alone. The City Council must approve ordinances, appropriations, development measures and other major local actions.
In July 2025, PIA reported that Siao, Uy and Regencia publicly committed to cooperation despite political differences. The city’s identified priorities included the Sports and Events Center, New Government Center, Drainage Master Plan, water improvements, waste management and urban planning.
The announcement establishes a stated commitment to cooperation. Results should still be judged through approved ordinances, budgets, completed projects and public-service outcomes.
Major Priorities for Siao’s Second Term
The complete official wording of all 15 Priority Development Goals was not located in a single accessible official document during verification. The priorities below are limited to those publicly identified by government sources.
Water supply
Water was part of Siao’s inaugural agenda in 2022 and remained a stated priority after his 2025 reelection.
Residents can evaluate progress through:
- Frequency and duration of interruptions
- Water pressure
- Water quality
- Household connections
- Service expansion
- System losses
- Reliability across barangays
Waste management
The first term introduced processing equipment and biodegradable-waste interventions, but the second term still identifies waste management as an ongoing priority.
The next test is whether individual machines fit into a reliable citywide system for segregation, collection, recovery, processing and final disposal.
Health services
Health-service expansion, staffing and facilities remain part of the administration’s agenda.
The practical measures are whether health centers are operational, appropriately staffed, supplied and accessible to the barangays they are expected to serve.
Pala-o Market
PIA reported that completion of the Pala-o Market project was among the priorities named after Siao’s reelection.
The project should be tracked through verified milestones such as procurement, construction progress, occupancy planning, utility connections and full opening.
Drainage and flood control
The city’s first-term report documented dredging and declogging work. The second-term agenda also identifies a Drainage Master Plan as part of the administration’s flood-control strategy.
A master plan is an important planning instrument, but residents will ultimately experience its value through completed drainage works and reduced flood exposure.
New Government Center
The New Government Center was publicly identified as a key second-term initiative in July 2025.
Its exact site, funding, procurement, construction schedule and completion status should be described only as official documents become available.
Urban planning and a more inclusive city
The administration has described urban planning, infrastructure and digital governance as parts of a broader effort to build a smart and inclusive city.
That goal can be measured through accessible services, public transport, land-use decisions, disaster resilience, digital transactions, business processing and equitable investment across barangays.
Proposed Iligan Sports and Events Center
Sports development connects Siao’s earliest government role with one of his most visible second-term proposals.
In July 2025, PIA reported that the city planned to develop an Iligan Sports Events Center intended to support youth athletes, grassroots sports, events and local tourism.
The report said the former National Steel Corporation property was being assessed as a possible site, subject to legal review. An alternative site involving a possible partnership with the Philippine Football Federation was also being considered.
This means the project was still in the proposal, assessment and partnership-development stage at the time of the report. The NSC property should not be presented as a final confirmed location.
The proposal followed Iligan’s performance at the 2025 Palarong Pambansa, where the city delegation reportedly earned:
- 15 gold medals
- 7 silver medals
- 13 bronze medals
- First place in Northern Mindanao
- Second place in Mindanao
- Sixth place nationwide
These were the figures reported by PIA in connection with the proposed facility.
Project and Priority Status Tracker
| Area | Verified action or commitment | Status based on cited sources |
|---|---|---|
| Water supply | Identified in the 2022 and 2025 agendas | Ongoing priority |
| Solid waste | Thermal-decomposition equipment and market-waste processing reported | Implemented interventions; citywide issue remains ongoing |
| Health services | Expanded staffing and health programs reported | Ongoing |
| Super health centers | Construction reported in Kabacsanan and Del Carmen | Current operating details should be checked separately |
| Pala-o Market | Completion named as a second-term priority | Ongoing project |
| Drainage | Dredging, declogging and road-side drainage reported | Implemented works; master plan remains part of current agenda |
| Sports and Events Center | Possible sites and partnerships under assessment | Proposed |
| New Government Center | Named as a key second-term initiative | Publicly announced; detailed project status not confirmed |
| Mangrove planting | 15-hectare expansion reported | Reported first-term output |
| New barangays | Republic Act No. 11902 enacted | Enacted law |
This tracker should be updated whenever the city publishes budgets, procurement notices, notices of award, completion reports or verified operating information.
Challenges and Accountability
A political career cannot be evaluated through awards and announcements alone. The harder test is whether public services become more reliable.
Long-running water problems
Water remained on the administration’s agenda from the beginning of the first term through the start of the second. That continuity shows that it is a persistent infrastructure and management challenge rather than a problem solved by one announcement.
Sustainable waste operations
Waste-processing machines can help, but their value depends on regular operation, maintenance, collection, segregation and compliant final disposal.
Completing large capital projects
Markets, government centers, drainage networks and sports facilities can take several years. Public updates should clearly distinguish between a proposal, an approved budget, a contract, construction progress and a fully operational facility.
Coordination among elected officials
The mayor, vice mayor, City Council and congressional representative have separate mandates. Cooperation can speed essential programs, while legislative scrutiny can improve transparency. Both are necessary.
Attribution of accomplishments
City results should not automatically be credited to one person. Large programs frequently involve:
- The mayor and executive departments
- The City Council
- Barangay governments
- National agencies
- Congress
- Contractors and consultants
- Civil-society groups
- Private-sector partners
- Career public employees
The strongest wording is specific: proposed, authored, approved, signed, funded, implemented, completed or operated.
Awards and Recognition Reported During Siao’s Administration
The 2024 State of Iligan City report cited recognition involving:
- Ease of doing business
- Improved competitiveness
- Tuberculosis-program performance
- Childhood nutrition work
- Youth development
- Progress in Seal of Good Local Governance indicators
These awards generally recognized Iligan City or its departments, not Mayor Siao personally. They should therefore be described as institutional achievements during his administration.
The same PIA article mentioned an 89.7% job-performance result from a private regional survey. Since this was not an official election result or government approval study, it should always be attributed to the private organization that conducted it rather than presented as a definitive citywide rating.
What Could Define Freddie Siao’s Legacy?
Siao’s career has followed a clear progression:
Sports administration → City Council → House of Representatives → City Mayor
His eventual legacy will depend less on the number of roles held and more on whether the city records durable improvements in:
- Reliable water
- Sustainable waste management
- Accessible healthcare
- Functional public markets
- Flood and drainage management
- Roads and barangay facilities
- Investment and employment
- Youth and sports development
- Transparent procurement
- Cooperation across political groups
The closer 2025 mayoral result is also part of the record. Siao received a second mandate, but the margin narrowed substantially compared with 2022. That gives his second term a clear political challenge: turn plans into results that residents can see, use and independently verify.
How to Follow Mayor Siao and Iligan City Government
Residents can monitor public announcements, advisories and project updates through:
- Iligan City Government official website
- Iligan City Government Facebook page
- Mayor Freddie Siao official website
- Mayor Freddie Siao official biography
- Mayor Freddie Siao official Facebook page
- Mayor Freddie Siao Instagram
- Iligan City Hall on Google Maps
City Mayor’s Office
Address: Buhanginan Hills, Pala-o, Iligan City
Email: cmo@iligan.gov.ph
Published office hours: Monday to Friday, 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM
The office details above are published on the mayor’s official website. A direct office telephone number was not displayed on the verified biography page, so none is included.
Conclusion
Freddie Siao entered Iligan City government as sports director in 2004. He later served two terms as councilor, two terms in Congress and two successful mayoral campaigns.
His congressional record includes numerous Iligan-focused proposals and an enacted law creating six barangays. His first mayoral term produced reported outputs involving business processing, agriculture, health, housing, environmental work, roads, drainage and waste processing.
His second term carries a heavier delivery test. Water, waste management, health services, Pala-o Market, drainage, a proposed sports center and a new government center are among the priorities now associated with the administration.
For Iliganons, the best way to assess the mayor is neither automatic praise nor automatic criticism. It is to compare commitments with budgets, procurement records, completed infrastructure, operating services and conditions experienced in the barangays.
Elections create a mandate. The years between them reveal what that mandate became.
Article Update Record
Last fact-checked: July 4, 2026
This page should be updated when official election records, city reports, enacted laws, project contracts, completion notices or verified operating information become available.
