ILOILO City – The Sangguniang Panlungsod (SP) reallocated the P85 million it previously scrapped from the city government’s Supplemental Budget No. 3 for the rehabilitation of public markets and the city’s abattoir.
Supplemental Budget No. 3 that reached over P130 million had a P35-million allocation for land development fort the proposed Iloilo Sports Arena and P50 million for the construction of a multipurpose building. These two, however, were scrapped by the SP on Oct. 16. Councilors saw no need for a sports arena and a multipurpose building.
“The city’s public markets and abattoir are vital public utilities and economic enterprises that are effective catalysts/contributors to local development. Therefore, said infrastructures and premises must be kept clean, safe and conducive for the general public at all times,” read part of the SP resolution approved on Nov. 6 for the reallocation of the scrapped budgets. It was sponsored by Councilor Armand Parcon.
The SP further enjoined the Local Economic Enterprise Office (LEEO), which oversees the city public markets and slaughterhouse, in coordination with the City Engineer’s Office to have an updated detailed master plan regarding the repair/rehab of all public markets and slaughterhouse in case the city government opts for repair or complete rehabilitation.
Previously, the SP convening as a committee of the whole and called for a deeper look into the woeful state of the city’s public markets and abattoir. Among others, it cited leaking roofs, defective toilets, faulty drainage system, unsanitary “wet section”, and lack of proper sectioning.
Councilors Joshua Alim and R Leone Gerochi both called for a comprehensive development plan for the city’s public markets.
Alim further suggested that the P500 million which the city government plans to loan for the proposed sports arena should be realigned for the redevelopment of the markets.
“After all we have already authorized the mayor to negotiate for that loan,” said Alim./PN
