CEBU City Mayor-elect Nestor Archival is set to coordinate with the Department of Public Works and Highways 7 regarding the Pasil Fish Market, aiming to resolve long-standing issues including its unfinished construction, a leaking roof and unsanitary conditions.
Archival said in a media interview on Tuesday, June 17, 2025, that he will inquire about the contractor responsible for the market, as the building has not yet been formally turned over to the City.
“Kon kinsa’y contractor, atong tan-awn kon nahuman na ba ning buildinga. Kon wala pa, atong ipahuman,” he said.
(We’ll check who the contractor is, and see if this building is finished. If it’s not yet done, we’ll have it completed.)
During a visit to Pasil on June 14, prompted by requests from vendors to assess cleanliness, road conditions and traffic, Archival observed several pressing problems.
He noted that the market’s roof has a significant hole, leading to rainwater dripping inside, a problem vendors have tried to address themselves with temporary fixes.
Archival also expressed concern over the market’s cleanliness, observing dirty water. He heard unverified allegations that vendors were allegedly using seawater for cleaning purposes, a claim he plans to verify.
“These are things nga (that are) unverified, so ato ng siguroon nga tinuod na (we need to verify that it’s true),” he stated, adding that a proper drainage system would be eyed in the area.
Beyond the physical state of the market, Archival also met with various vendors, including wholesalers, retailers and “tappers” (middlemen), and discovered that some vendors had not yet taken possession of their contracts of lease. This issue, along with the market’s structural and sanitation problems, will be part of his immediate focus.
Looking ahead, Archival outlined plans for comprehensive improvements to the market, including proper roof cleaning and the installation of an efficient drainage system to address the pervasive unsanitary conditions.
During his visit, Archival met with members of the Pasil Suba Vendors Association to tackle concerns of the local fish market.
After the facility was closed in May 2020 due to the Covid-19 pandemic, the Pasil Fish Market was allocated with a P4.9 million budget for the renovation of the roof and improvements to the stalls. The local fish market was reopened on Aug. 28, 2020. (JPS)