MAYOR Evelio Leonardia led the inauguration of the newly renovated meat seat section of the Libertad Public Market on December 21.
"Despite the pandemic, Bacolod didn't stop. We are far from what we had achieved last year, but we are still among the better cities. The National Competitiveness Council has just declared us the 'Most Competitive City in the Visayas.' This is a big morale booster," Leonardia said.
"Once this pandemic is over, for sure the progress of Bacolod will also return. I can guarantee you that," he added.
Also joining the inauguration were Vice Mayor El Cid Familiaran, Councilor Bart Orola, chair of the City Council Committee on Markets and Slaughterhouses; Councilor Renecito Novero, City Administrator Em Ang, Assistant City Administrator Allyn Luv Dignadice, Mark Mayo, who represented Representative Greg Gasataya; Executive Assistant Ernie Pineda, Acting Market Supervisor Jonah Abao, Grupo Progreso consultant Marlon Solidum; and Efren Mangalos, president of Bacolod City Market Vendors Association.
The newly improved meat section includes 18 long steel meat tables and each table can accommodate two vendors.
The project, which cost about P4.7 million, was funded using the city's Annual Investment Program (AIP) in 2019.
Familiaran said the monthly rental for steel meat section is about P500, while the other booths are P600. This is like the charity of Bacolod to its citizens, he said.
"You are lucky because Mayor Bing is the mayor," the vice mayor added.
Ang said, "Our markets may have one of the cheapest rental rates in the country."
"This market repair and rehabilitation project is a fulfillment of the commitment of Grupo Progreso. There are still incoming projects to further this renovation," she added.
Dignadice, who was appointed assistant city administrator this month, said that starting December 23, the meat vendors can start occupying the meat section. Currently, there are 31 meat vendors scheduled to occupy the area, she said.
Mayo, on behalf of Gasataya, said, "Mayor Bing is busy all the time. He has lots of obligations and he is facing a lot of problems but despite all that, he never forgets our market vendors here in Bacolod."
"Through the cooperation of our vendors who strictly observe health protocols, this project of Bacolod will be fruitful," Mayo said. (PR)