BACOLOD City – Not all vendors at Sum-ag Public Market in Barangay Sum-ag will be moving to the newly constructed market facility on July 28.
Rodney Carmona, the barangay captain of Sum-ag, confirmed that approximately 150 vendors are set to move to the new market this Sunday following the energization of the facility by the Central Negros Electric Cooperative (Ceneco) Friday last week.
However, meat vendors are excluded from this initial transfer. They will continue to operate outside the new market premises pending the construction of dedicated meat stalls.
The completion of the new market has encountered delays and additional funding requirements.
District Engineer Abraham Villareal of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) noted that an extra P10 million is needed to finalize the construction.
The incomplete sections include the meat vendor area, prompting the city government to commit to assisting with the project’s completion.
Despite these challenges, the partial opening of the market is expected to alleviate the traffic congestion along Araneta Street, where vendors have temporarily set up shop following the demolition of the old market over three years ago.
Villareal said the national government has invested approximately P66 million in the construction of the two-story facility, which includes a parking area.
Vendor fees, known as “arkabala”, vary from P20 to P70 based on the goods sold, added Carmona./PN
