By Raymart Escopel
ILOILO City – The establishment of business districts here will not affect small time businessmen, according to National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) Region 6 Assistant Regional Director Raul Anlocotan.
In an exclusive interview with Panay News, Anlocotan disclosed the rise of business districts such as the controversial Central Business District – which aims to rehabilitate the Iloilo Central Market through partnership with the private sector – will complement small time business owners who own stalls in the market.
He lauded the City government for the idea of developing the Iloilo Central Market believing it will make the business sector in Iloilo City more vibrant and competitive.
“The development of Iloilo Central Market into another area is one good way of keeping the city proper as a shopping center,” he said.
Anlocotan noted that with the establishment of business districts in other parts of the city such as in the district of Mandurriao, there is a big possibility that people will no longer head to the city proper to shop or buy goods.
He cited the efforts of the City government of transforming the Calle Real as a heritage site, attracting more people not only to shop, but to also see various tourism attractions in the downtown area.
“We are trying to evolve the city proper not only as a place for shopping, but a place to tourism,” he added.
However, he stressed it still depends on how the city government develop the business districts that could benefit the current tenants of the market.
“It is a matter of packaging and development of the area in order to make them all happy and highly competitive,” Anlocotan concluded./PN
