ILOILO City – On its last regular session on Tuesday afternoon, the Sangguniang Panlungsod (SP) unanimously approved two resolutions moving forward the redevelopment of the city’s two biggest markets.
One resolution authorized Mayor Jerry Treñas to enter into and sign a Lease Agreement with the prospective proponent having the best responsive proposal for the redevelopment of the Iloilo Central Market and Iloilo Terminal Market.
The second resolution approved the tender documents for the lease agreement for the redevelopment of the markets and issuance of the same documents to interested bidders in the market project.
The approval of the two resolutions came after the SP adopted the report of the Committee on Market and Slaughterhouse and Committee on Infrastructure chaired by Councilor Ely Estante favorably endorsing the same.
Atty. Quintin Magsico Jr., vice chairman of the Iloilo City Public Private Partnership (PPP) – Selection Committee, said that once the tender documents were approved, the proposal would be published in a newspaper of national circulation and would be opened for a Swiss challenge.
A Swiss challenge is a form of competition which requires a public authority (usually an agency of government) which has received an unsolicited bid for a public project, or for services to be provided to government, to publish the bid and invite third parties to provide better proposals.
Those interested to challenge must signify their intention within 15 days after the second advertisement/publication.
Estante, in his committee report, said the opportunity to develop the two markets has arrived. Private company SM Prime Holdings, Inc. has offered to redevelop the two markets through Public Private Partnership (PPP).
“Tama ka ginansya diri ang aton syudad. Una bes, ang Super (Terminal Market) kag Central Market mangin moderno nga balaligyaan parehos ka mga malls nga naglapta na subong sa syudad. And they will be built without cost to the city. Bisan singko sentimos nga bingkong indi mag gasto ang syudad,” said Estante.
The PPP Contract has a 25-year validity which means the ownership of the markets will return to the city after 25 years subject to the renewal of lease of agreement.
Estante believes the redevelopment of the markets will generate employment, create more businesses and income generating opportunities and revive the economy not just in the City Proper District but the entire city.
“Ang linibo naton nga mga vendors sa Super kag Central Market ginpasiguro man nga indi mapahalin. Ang syudad mismo ang magahatag proteksyon kag magadumala sa ila padayon nga negosyo,” Estante said./PN
