ILOILO City – The city government is moving to modernize two of the city’s biggest markets in a bid to further stimulate the local economy stymied by over two years of coronavirus pandemic.
Mayor Jerry Treñas is looking at the public-private partnership (PPP) scheme to upgrade the Iloilo Central Market (also known as “Tienda Mayor”) and the Iloilo Terminal Market (popularly known as “Super”).
He assured market vendors that none of them would be displaced. In fact, he said, the redevelopment of the two markets would make them accommodate more vendors.
Treñas’ vision for the two markets’ redevelopment also includes operation and maintenance.
The goal is to provide the city with a sustainable multi-use market complex that will develop and enhance business activities as well as preserve the economic value of the Old Central Business District (Calle Real) of Iloilo City.
The Iloilo Central Market is one of the most popular and most visited areas of the city. Visitors can find numerous agricultural products, crafts, cheap wares, among others. It also has a range of small shops, workshops and stalls.
The Iloilo Terminal Market, on the other hand, is where most of the produce from other parts of
Panay Island are traded wholesale and retail.
Couple Jocel and Nora delos Reyes from Barangay Calaparan, Arevalo district have been selling fish at the Iloilo Central Market these past 20 years. They welcomed the market’s redevelopment and count on Treñas’ assurance that they won’t be displaced.
They described their current topsy-turvy situation in the market as “daw kasagingan.”
They also lamented that in their part of the market, the roof is leaking when it rains.
Improving the city’s public markets is part of Treñas’ WHEELS roadmap for inclusive development and good governance. WHEELS focuses on eight priority areas – Welfare, Health and Sanitation, Education, Environmental Management, Livelihood, and Sustainability.
Other ongoing redevelopments in the city are the improvement of health centers, establishment of the Iloilo City Action and Response (ICARE) command center and its satellite offices, socialized housing, free dialysis for indigent residents, and improving school facilities and daycare centers, among others.
Another long-time vendor, 62-year-old Estelita Ireneo, expressed support to Treñas’ market improvement program.
“Time na gid man nga i-develop,” said Ireneo who has been selling in the market atsara, ginamos, tahong, and bananas these past 40 years.
“Ang nahadlukan sang mga vendors basi pahalinon. Pero siling nila indi. Kabay pa matuman,” said Ireneo.
Treñas reiterated his assurance that no vendors would be displaced, so they have nothing to worry about.
SM Prime Holdings has shown interest in the markets and pre-negotiation recently kicked off with the PPP Center, the government agency mandated to facilitate the implementation of PPP programs and projects. It serves as the central coordinating and monitoring agency for all PPP projects.
The result of the negotiation will be subjected to a “Swiss challenge” to formally start the bidding.
A Swiss challenge is a form of public procurement which requires a public authority (usually an agency of government) which has received an unsolicited bid for a public project, or for services to be provided to government, to publish the bid and invite third parties to match or better it.
According to Treñas, under the PPP scheme the city government won’t need to shell out funds for the markets./PN
