Bidding of repair set for Burgos market

BACOLOD City Engineer Luben Rafael Seballos said that the bidding for the repair of the portion of the Burgos Public Market, which was razed by fire, is set on October 16, 2012.

According to Luben, who is in charge of the said project, a pre-bid conference will be conducted on October 4, 2012.

He said there was a delay in the implementation of the project due to the change in plan and design.

He also said the budget intended for the vegetable section was re-aligned to the repair of the portion which was damaged by fire last May 6, 2012.

Luben said the instruction came from Bacolod City Mayor Evelio Leonardia to prioritize the repair of the damaged portion of the public market, adding that a project proposal and design was submitted to the mayor for approval.

He said if the implementation of said project will be done, they will start with the main roof followed by the damaged areas of the public market.

This came after Councilor Caesar Distrito earlier requested the City Engineer's Office, the Bids and Awards Committee, and the City Administrator through the Office of the City Mayor, and Mayor Leonardia to hasten the rehabilitation of the North Public Market (Burgos) as stall owners were also affected by the fire incident.

Last May 6, 2012, 28 stalls in the said market were damaged by fire and 12 of the said stalls were burned to the ground. The damage amounted to more or less P1.5 million.

The Ordinance 543, series of 2011 states that the North Public Market has its own trust fund which is intended for its maintenance.

The city government of Bacolod has allocated P7 million for the repair of the markets and out of the said fund, P3 million was allocated for the repair of the burned portion of Burgos Market.

Taculing-Alijis Bridge

Moreover, Distrito also inquired from the CEO through the City Mayor regarding the status of the Taculing-Alijis Bridge construction.

He said the construction of the Taculing-Alijis Bridge was inaugurated even before the 2010 elections. On March 16, 2011, the City Council had authorized Mayor Evelio Leonardia to file expropriation proceedings for the property of Catholic Women’s League (Bacolod Girls Home) which was affected by the construction. Last January 11, 2012, the City Council ratified the compromise agreement on this matter, he added.

Distrito said it has been eight months since the ratification but no further updates about the construction of the bridge were provided, particularly to the City Council.

Distrito said the construction of the said bridge is important as it will shorten the distance for travelers from the downtown area to Alijis, Handumanan and Cabug, create a short cut between the two barangays, and decongest traffic along the Araneta-Magsaysay area. (Carla N. Canet)