By Glazyl Y. Masculino
BACOLOD City – The city government is no longer pushing its proposed plan of entering a public-private partnership (PPP) scheme for the construction of the Burgos Public Market here.
This, after the city government and the Yanson family, which owns a two-hectare property in Barangay 19 beside the existing market, did not reach an agreement.
Instead, the city plans to buy the property as a new site for the permanent market, according to Mayor Alfredo “Albee” Benitez.
Benitez said they are negotiating the price with the Yanson family, as the property is being sold at P920 million.
“All it needs is a go signal from them. Kung mag agree na kami sa price. It will not take more than a month, makasugod kita,” Benitez said.
Benitez said the city is targeting to start the construction of the new market by first quarter of this year. A budget of P525 million was allocated for the said project, which is part of the city’s loan.
Earlier, the city planned to allocate P160 million for a temporary site for the market vendors once the construction of the new market begins.
But, with the said development, the mayor said that the city could save P160 million as they will proceed with the construction of a permanent market without disrupting the livelihood of the vendors in the existing market.
Benitez said that market vendors will not be affected because they will no longer have to transfer to a temporary site.
He added that the city can even use the budget for the supposed temporary site to buy additional land.
“We can just build a permanent market. Bisan one year pa na construction, there’s no disruption on their livelihood,” he said.
Benitez said they will make Burgos Public Market one of the centers of commerce in the city, as it will have enough facilities and spaces to promote commercial activities.
The Burgos Public Market is one of the three major public markets here situated in the northern part of this city.
The concept of the new two-story Burgos market includes a terminal for Granada and Alangilan routes, a covered parking space, a food court, and additional stalls. The project is expected to be completed in 18 months.
