EXPECT a fully upgraded-Agdao Public Market, which is envisioned to compete with the supermarkets in malls, a city official said.

Davao City Economic Enterprise representative Gerald Castillo said the design of the public market was inspired by Maramag Public Market in Bukidnon, dubbed as the "cleanest public market in the Philippines."

He said the city had a benchmarking in Maramag few years back.

"Ang stalls nato kay parehas sa mga supermarkets nga naa'y chiller. Ta's naa ta'y business centers (Our stalls will be similar to those in supermarkets wherein they have chillers. We will also have business centers in the area)," Castillo said Thursday, June 20, during the iSpeak media forum at the City Hall of Davao.

The public market, which will be expanded to a three- to four-story building, is expected to be completed early 2021. It will then be renamed as Agdao Farmer's Market.

Castillo said the P2-billion market will also have a parking building for customers.

He said, however, it is still uncertain if the modern design of the Agdao market will also be adapted to the Bankerohan Public Market, which is now also being pushed to undergo rehabilitation.

"Hopefully, we could do the same. But it would still depend on the budget allocation," Castillo said.

CEE head Maribeth Lumactod, meanwhile, said there are plans to make the Agdao market air-conditioned as it was included in their original proposal but it is not final yet.

Lumactod recently revealed that the rehabilitation of the Bankerohan market is not yet possible as they are still settling the market's proof of ownership.

She also said the Panacan Public Market is also being targeted to be rehabilitated.