BACOLOD City – The city government is seeking to construct a new Burgos Public Market, instead of renovation, via the public-private partnership (PPP) scheme.
The Burgos Public Market is one of the three major public markets in this city situated in the northern part of the locality. The two other markets are Central in the downtown area and Libertad in the southern portion.
Last year, the city government availed itself of the P4.4-billion loan from the Development Bank of the Philippines (DBP) for various projects. P2.3 billion of which was allocated for infrastructure projects, with P525 million allotted for the rehabilitation of the Burgos Market.
The initial plan was to put up a temporary market at a Yanson family property in front of the Burgos Market and to relocate the vendors there.
Mayor Alfredo Abelardo Benitez, however, said he will talk with the property owner as he is considering the PPP scheme for the market.
“Storyahon ta. Instead of putting up a temporary place basi permanent na lang para indi na magasto. We will explore PPP arrangement,” the mayor said.
He added: “If they agreed that instead of moving the market there temporarily nga dason ibalik naman, didto na lang para isa na lang ka gasto.”
The city mayor further said it would be more convenient to build a new market and under the PPP scheme, the city government could save millions of pesos from the rent and construction of the temporary relocation of the vendors in a private property.
Under the PPP agreement, Benitez said the city government would provide the building and the Yanson family could provide the land./PN
