Plans to improve Iloilo City markets ‘being studied’

Iloilo Central Market

The Iloilo City Government is “diligently studying” ways to resolve problems in Iloilo City’s public markets, according to lawyer Hernando Galvez, city administrator.

Vendors and customers have been calling on the city government to improve, especially the state of the Iloilo Central Market and Iloilo Terminal Market in City Proper.

Galvez said there are already plans and City Mayor Jose Espinosa III is studying them.

“Ginatun-an pa sang mayor ang mga proposals. Indi kita ka padasu-daso implement sangrehabilitation sang aton merkado.”

Last week, Assistant City Engineer Karl Quimsing said the Iloilo Central Market, La Paz Public Market, and Iloilo Terminal Market are “not feasible for rehabilitation.”

“Wala na ni sila tiyansa. Indi na sila pwede marehab kay outdated na,” he explained.

He recommended the demolition of the three public markets and replace them with new ones.

“Pahimo nalang kita modern markets,” Quimsing said.

Galvez assured that there would be no increase in rental rates and no displacement of vendors.

“Indi gusto ni mayor nga may maapektuhan nga vendors kag magsuffer sila sa mataas nga renta,” he said.

“The mayor will not also allow the public-private -partnership (PPP) scheme,” Galvez added.

In 2015, the city government pushed for the redevelopment of the Iloilo Central Market through a joint venture agreement with SM Prime Holdings.

The redevelopment project, however, failed to get the support of several vendors.

Meanwhile, Galvez said Espinosa should not be blamed for the “long-standing problems” in the markets.

“Indi pa mayor si Espinosa ara na inang mga problema. Subong, ginatinguhaan gid ni mayor nga masolbar ina.”

Yesterday, City Environment and Natural Resources Office chief Noel Hechanova, in a public hearing, said vendors play an important role in making the markets clean and orderly.

“May mga vendors nga maskin diin lang mapwesto, wala na agyan ang mga gabakal.

Ang drainage puno sang ila basura,” he lamented.

Hechanova said vendors should discipline themselves to make the markets convenient for them and for their customers.

SOURCE: Iloilo Metropolitan Times

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