ILOILO City – Public markets here will now be subjected to stricter and sustained cleanliness standards after Mayor Raisa Treñas signed Executive Order No. 077, institutionalizing the “Limpyo Merkado Program” as a permanent sanitation and hygiene initiative.
The order covers all markets managed by the City Government through the Local Economic Enterprise Office (LEEO) — Central, Terminal, La Paz, Mandurriao, Arevalo, Jaro Big, and Jaro Small — ensuring that cleanliness is no longer limited to occasional drives but is now a mandated policy.
“Our public markets are not only centers of livelihood and commerce, but are vital spaces where our communities connect,” Treñas said. “The Limpyo Merkado Program is one way to make sure our markets remain clean, safe, and sustainable for both vendors and consumers.”
Unlike previous cleanup efforts, the program emphasizes discipline, cooperation, and accountability among vendors and consumers. “This is not just about cleaning stalls,” the mayor explained. “It is about building a culture of discipline and shared responsibility so that our markets can truly serve as models of order and hygiene.”
The initiative is anchored on the city’s RISE to Action roadmap, particularly under the Sustainability pillar, which highlights resilient, inclusive, and well-managed market operations.
Vendors have welcomed the EO, saying cleaner surroundings will help attract more buyers. “Kon limpyo ang merkado, mas nami ang palaligya kag indi magduda ang mga konsumedor nga malimpyo man ang among baligya,” a fish vendor at Central Market said.
Market officials also assured full cooperation, citing stronger monitoring and waste management measures. LEEO confirmed that vendors will undergo training and orientation sessions to ensure compliance with sanitation guidelines.
“With this EO, the City Government is sending a clear message: that maintaining cleanliness is not optional, it is a shared duty,” Treñas stressed./PN
