THE Iloilo City Government proposed a redevelopment plan for the Iloilo Central Market during a consultative meeting held at the Jubilee Hall on November 5.
Iloilo City Administrator Hernando Galvez said, previously, the city government headed by Mayor Jose Espinosa III conducted an ocular inspection after hearing the concerns of the Iloilo Central Market vendors.
They had analyzed the present condition of the market which includes deteriorating heritage building, congested traffic and illegal parking, lack of water supply, insufficient lighting, poor sanitation and ventilation, inadequate space for mobility due to overcrowding, and deterioration of marketability and economy.
“The foregoing are evidences of blatant violations of various laws, rules, regulations, and ordinances,” Galvez shared in his presentation.
To aid the current situation, the city government proposed these solutions such as the restoration of the heritage building, proper loading and unloading bays and parking areas, renovation of existing market, proper space planning, introduction of social spaces, and providing multi-use facility.
Another component of the presentation are the policies as there will be no privatization, displacement of existing stall holders including all identified transients, increase in market fees, new big players, ensures the least disturbance of business activity and shall comply with all governing laws, rules, regulations, and ordinances.
The construction of the new market will go through a phasing system to avoid the displacement of the vendors.
Phase I is the rehabilitation of the Heritage Building with a proposed budget of P37.9 million.
There will be three parts for the Phase 2, part A is the construction of access road with a proposed budget of P33 million; part B, is the construction of car park with a proposed budget of P271.9 million; and part C is the construction of “corporate” with a proposed budget of P133.2 million.
Phase 3 involves the rehabilitation of the main market with a proposed budget of P348.2 million.
Phase 4 involves the restoration of Handumanan and Park with a proposed budget of P42.4 million.
Lastly, phase 5 involves the construction of the multi-use expansion with a proposed budget of P327.6 million.
The city government concluded that the new market will “put forward positive changes, not only on the part of market vendors, but also of the city district, and the entire City of Iloilo in general.”
They also perceived that it will “attract more clients, including tourists (local and national) and will therefore generate more income or profits and jobs” and become a “Public Market of Dignity.” (Carolyn Jane Abello)