ILOILO City – The city government is taking steps to redevelop five public markets.
Yesterday, Mayor Jerry Treñas convened various associations of market vendors and presented to them the plan.
Based on the “market sounding” activity which the Public-Private Partnership (PPP) Center conducted, Treñas said two companies – SM Development Corp. and Metro Pacific – expressed interest to develop the Iloilo Central Market and Iloilo Terminal market.
On the other hand, the redevelopment of the La Paz, Jaro (Big) and Arevalo public markets will be funded by the city government through a bank loan. Their designs are being finalized.
Treñas noted that once the designs and the terms of reference are finalized, it will be forwarded to the Bids and Awards Committee next month.
The Development Bank of the Philippines (DBP) already approved the loan of the city government amounting to P1.750 billion for various projects including the improvement of the markets.
The improvement of the Jaro and La Paz public markets has a P395-million budget each, while P150 million was allotted for the Arevalo public market.
No vendors will be displaced if the redevelopment materializes, Treñas stressed.
“Waay sang may maibanan nga mga vendors. Kon pila kamo, amo man ‘na gihapon. Basi madugangan lang kay sa ibabaw sang La Paz, Arevalo kag Jaro butangan sang stalls kag may duha ka elevators,” said Treñas, noting that the second floor of the markets will serve as parking spaces.
The design of the central and terminal markets, on the other hand, will depend on the company that will develop them.
However, Treñas stressed, as one of the requirements stipulated in the city’s terms of reference, the city government will manage the first floor of the central and terminal markets.
“Waay pa design but ang aton requirement kon pila ‘na da ang vendors amo ‘na sila gihapon ang mabalik. Ang ground floor ibilin sa syudad, kita mapadalagan, kay-uhon lang nila kag upod sa ila design nga ipaobra,” Treñas said.
Do vendors find this okay?
The market vendors associations from La Paz, Jaro, Arevalo, and terminal markets welcomed this development. However, the vendors’ association from the central market through their president Rex Donasco had reservations.
Treñas, at the very beginning of the meeting, cleared to the vendors that he will not push through the redevelopment of the markets if there are opposition.
Donasco clarified that they are not against the improvement of the central market. However, he suggested that if it is under PPP, the first and second floors of the markets should be managed by the city government.
“Ano pa gusto mo nga kita na gani mapadalagan sa dalum sang aton nga mga vendors, dasun kita pa mapadalagan sa babaw kundi kita na lang mapaobra, ti waay kita kwarta nga amo ‘na,” Treñas stressed.
Treñas told Donasco to sit down with his members if they really want or not th at the central market will be developed.
“Ay ‘noy, kon amo na gusto mo, ti ikaw na lang paobra, mahulat na lang kami…. Ari na lang hu, pungkoan niyo ‘to kon ano gusto niyo. Kon indi kamo gusto, waay man kaso eh, hulat lang kamo da ‘ya. Kabudlay ‘na ‘ya nga gusto niyo masaka pa gid kami sa second floor… Pandemic subong, karun nagad pa kita demand,” the city mayor added.
The central market is a heritage structure, Donasco said in an interview after the meeting.
He suggested that the redevelopment should be undertaken by the city government and not through PPP.
“Waay ko ‘ya ga-oppose sang proyekto basta okay lang sa mga vendors. Kon majority sang mga vendors indi sila gusto ipa-PPP kay it’s a ‘love triangle’. Tatlo ka tawo ang involved mabudlay mag-istorya pero kon ang city government lang kag vendors, okay pa,” said Donasco.
Donasco emphasized that the whole plan must be presented first to the vendors and stakeholders – not that they will just say yes to the development they have no idea about the details.
“Kon i-present nila kag acceptable naman, nga-a abi indi kami gusto nga i-improve ang central market,” Donasco explained.
Nevertheless, Donasco said he will still consult his members anew./PN
