THE first validation of more than 1,000 stalls and tables at the Iloilo City central market has started Friday, City Administrator Norlito Bautista said.

Bautista said the city's market committee has finished identifying and evaluating rightful stall holders.

He added that the problematic stalls will be declared vacant and applicants can submit their application to the market-in-charge.

After an adjudication process, Mayor Jed Patrick Mabilog will award the market stalls to qualified stall holders at the terminal market.

Bautista said he is expecting some 500 transient vendors to register.

Under the market's policy, the “one family-one stall” award still holds and no family can have two or more stalls.