ILOILO City – From the familiar line, “your visit to Iloilo City is not complete without eating batchoy and Molo balls,” a new narrative is taking shape: “your visit to Iloilo City is not complete without seeing its modern markets.” Even public figures are now drawn to experience them firsthand.
The redeveloped Iloilo Central Public Market and Iloilo Terminal Public Market are fast emerging as national models for market modernization. Recently, they have attracted prominent visitors and inspired local government units (LGUs) to replicate their success.
Underscoring the growing recognition of the city’s flagship redevelopment project, among the prominent personalities who toured the upgraded facilities on separate days were former Senate President Franklin M. Drilon, Presidential Communications Office (PCO) Undersecretary Claire Castro, and veteran broadcast journalist Ces Drilon.
“I came here because I’ve heard so much about this. I’ve seen it on social media and wanted to see how well it was executed,” Drilon said, who further expressed strong admiration for the quality of the facilities.
The former senator emphasized that he has not seen a similar setup anywhere else in the Philippines, particularly noting the market’s cleanliness.
According to him, the project could serve as a model for other LGUs across the country.
“I will talk to them and encourage them to look at what was done here in Iloilo and see how this can be replicated in their localities,” he added.
USec. Castro, meanwhile, who took time to visit the Iloilo Central Market was impressed of how organized the market is. She personally met and talked with the market vendors.
Ces Drilon’s visit to the market, meantime, was a quick break from her busy schedule and as part of her visit to Iloilo City, a check in her summer bucket list.
The visitors were welcomed with a firsthand look at the markets’ improved layout, enhanced sanitation systems, and modernized infrastructure—features that have significantly elevated both vendor operations and customer experience.
The former senator and Castro were joined by Mayor Raisa S. Treñas during their visit. She expressed her appreciation for their presence.
“Ini nga pagbisita reflects the national government’s commitment to stay close to our communities and strengthen support for the livelihood of our market vendors,” the mayor added.
The city’s two biggest markets were redeveloped through public private partnership with SM, with the management still under the Iloilo City Government.
Aside from Central and Terminal markets, other city government-run public markets in Jaro, La Paz, and Arevalo districts have also been redeveloped using city government funds, in a move aimed at boosting market tourism.
Mayor Treñas emphasized that the initiative is about uplifting lives, with the goal of creating a safer, cleaner, and more efficient marketplace that will eventually empower vendors, strengthen small businesses, and reinforce the city’s role as a leader in sustainable urban development.
Since October and leading up to the grand reopening in November 2025, the two major markets have become learning hubs for governance and innovation, already benchmarked by at least nine LGUs and institutions across the country.
These include the LGUs of San Pablo, Laguna; General Santos City; Cabuyao, Laguna; Capiz; San Jose, Antique; and Tigbauan, Iloilo, as well as organizations such as FIR Investors, the Baguio Business Club, and the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) – Western Visayas.
Meanwhile, Vice Mayor Mark Cordero and Sangguniang Bayan member Roy Niño Malunda of Estancia town in Northern Iloilo — who also personally visited the markets — expressed strong interest in adopting similar initiatives in their first-class municipality.
Cordero praised the city’s public-private partnership with SM, noting its impact in transforming traditional marketplaces into engines of inclusive growth.
“I could say guro nga daw world-class na sya ang mga vendors, very organized, malimpyo, naka-tiles na ang salog daw pareho sa Dubai,”
Malunda, meanwhile, said the project is something Ilonggos can be proud of.
“Ga-handom man, especially ako, nga pila ka adlaw ma-ilog man ni namon. Mahatag man ni namon sa mga kasimanwa namon nga Estanciahanon ang amo ni ka limpyo nga merkado,” he said.
With continued visits from national figures and growing interest from other LGUs, Iloilo’s redeveloped public markets are steadily cementing their status as a benchmark for modernization — proof that with the right vision and collaboration, public markets can thrive in a rapidly evolving urban landscape./PN
