City still awaits DA funding for markets rehab
The national office of the Department of Agriculture (DA) has yet to respond on the request of the city government to include the five markets in the city for funding identification and rehabilitation. The city government needs an estimated P20 million for the rehabilitation of the city's several markets.
It was learned that DA Secretary Arthur Yap has yet to make any final comment on the request of Mayor Jerry Treñas for funding identification and much needed rehabilitation of the Iloilo Central Market, Lapaz Public Market, Arevalo Public Market, Jaro Big Market and Mandurriao Public Market. The request was made last year.
Of the five markets, Iloilo Central Market needs a bigger budget. The estimated cost for the rehabilitation of the Iloilo Central Market is P7,700,000; Lapaz Public Market P5,750,000; Arevalo Public Market P1,250,000; Jaro Big Market P4,000,000 and Mandurriao Public Market P2,000,000.
Currently, the five markets are not in good condition. They have either dilapidated roofing, clogged drainage and poor water supply system. These conditions of the wet market shove some of the market goers and prefer to shop in big malls especially during rainy season. Though, the price of the commodities are higher by some centavos or pesos and yet cleanliness is strictly observed in the big grocery stores. In most malls, shoppers can also get the service they have from the wet market aside from the cleanliness.