CITY of San Fernando Mayor Edwin Santiago recently underscored the construction and redevelopment of the new public market here will be funded by the Office of the President, contrary to claims that the city government took a loan to pursue the project.

During a recent gathering at the new City Civic Center in Barangay San Isidro here, Santiago said the Office of the President granted the city government’s request for assistance amounting to P500 million.

“We presented the study to the Malacañan Palace and just recently, we finally received their response which meant that they are granting our request,” said Santiago.

Based on a letter from the Office of the President dated March 13, 2019, it “identified the project under Priority Funding in Fiscal Year 2019” and is only awaiting some documents before the Department of Budget Management facilitates the release of funds.

“There is no loan, we never took one. We looked for funding through our partners in the national government and we are very lucky that Malacañan heard our request,” Santiago said.

Santiago said the funding will be used to construct additional facilities and improve the existing New Public Market in Barangay Del Pilar here to better accommodate the growing demands of Fernandino consumers.

“Of course our main objective is to provide convenience to all Fernandino consumers as well as vendors in the new public market,” he said.