ILOILO City – The redevelopment of the Iloilo Central Market and Iloilo Terminal Market is not privatization, clarified Mayor Jerry Treñas during another round of public consultation with market vendors.
“What is privatization? It is the transfer of a business, industry or service from public to private ownership and control. Our market redevelopment is not privatization but public-private partnership (PPP),” Treñas told vendors that attended yesterday the consultation at Kerr Building adjacent the city hall.
According to the city mayor, the city government won’t give up the management of “Tienda Mayor” and “Super”, popular names of the Iloilo Central Market and Iloilo Terminal Market, respectively.
“Sila ang mapakay-o. Pagbalik sang mga vendors, kita ya mapadalagan sang market,” said Treñas.
The city government late last month accepted the unsolicited proposals of SM Prime Holdings for the redevelopment of the city’s two biggest public markets.
Treñas reiterated his assurance that no legitimate vendors will be displaced once the redevelopment has been completed.
“Tindugan ko na. Ako mismo nagapasiguro sa inyo nga makabalik kamo,” he said.
The Terms of Reference of the PPP project states that the city government will manage the markets once the redevelopment is done, according to Treñas.
Some vendors yesterday expressed concern over the size of stalls in the redeveloped markets. Treñas noted it down for possible consideration. The design is not yet final, he said.
SM Prime Holdings’ proposal was published in a newspaper of national circulation for a Swiss challenge, which requires the city government to publish the bid and invite third parties to match or better it.
The second publication was on July 9 and so far, no other investor has stepped forward to challenge SM Prime.
The Swiss challenge will close 15 days after second publication.
Business groups have welcomed the impending redevelopment of the two markets.
For the Iloilo Business Club (IBC), transforming the two public markets into sustainable multi-use market complexes with modern, clean and convenient facilities for vendors and market goers will be a game-changer not only for the city but for the province.
It will lead to an increase in the markets’ customer base and will further augment the income of market vendors and ultimately, the city government.
For the Iloilo Economic Development Foundation, Inc. (ILEDF), the unsolicited proposal to develop the two biggest markets is a testament that major developers see Iloilo Cit y as a major investment destination./PN
