VENDORS plying their trade in old public market need not fear of possible dislocation or disruption of their businesses that may be caused by the ongoing rehabilitation and renovation of the decades-old public market in the poblacion, as the City Government of San Fernando assured entrepreneurs of the "best deal" after its completion.
Recently, some vendors who requested anonymity disclosed to SunStar Pampanga their worries about the old public market rehabilitation, ranging from rental fee increases, dislocation from their original areas and "other procedural concerns" that could aggravate their already-affected businesses amid the pandemic.
Officials of the market vendors' association added that they have already filed a "complaint" before proper authorities and would not, at the moment, comment on the ongoing renovation project.
On Wednesday, June 9, Mayor Edwin Santiago said the upgrading of the old public market, designed to be pandemic-resilient, is for the benefit of the traders, consumers, other stakeholders and augurs with the city's economic reboot thrusts.
The project has passed through the necessary legal procedures, including surveys conducted among market vendors and resident, plus careful study, consultation and planning by experts and representative from all concerned sectors, he said.
"The local government did not skip a single step in the process from the study, surveys, consultations and planning. It passed through what is needed to ensure that the city and Fernandinos will get the best deal," the mayor told SunStar Pampanga.
Santiago also said that from the original P650 million, the funding for the said project was reduced to P250 million.
The funding will come from a loan from a government bank with around 2 percent to 3 percent interest rate only.
It could be remembered that initially, the funds for rehabilitation of the old public market will come from a MalacaƱang grant but was deferred along with other economic enterprise projects.
Despite the reduction of the budget, Santiago assured that the rehabilitated public market will still be conducive for trade.
He said the design was just altered from a mall-like market to a regular one to adapt to the available funds.
"The new design is pandemic-resilient meaning it required less funding but it is still the same clean, bright, conducive and safe for commerce," he said.
As of Monday, June 7, the mayor said temporary spaces were already provided to all registered market vendors while the construction is ongoing. (With JTD)