By Joseph Bernard A. Marzan
Iloilo City Mayor Jerry Treñas announced on Tuesday, May 14, that the Arevalo district market is expected to be completed this year, potentially becoming the first of six markets to open under the city’s aggressive rehabilitation initiative.
The mayor toured the market with vendors and relevant city and barangay officials through the newly completed façade on Tuesday afternoon.
The façade’s design and construction represent Phase 1 of the project, which has a budget of P149.925 million out of a total P280 million.
Local contractors J.S. Layson Inc. and F. Gurrea Construction Inc. are jointly undertaking the construction.
Phase 2 of the market’s development, which includes tiling, electrical work, painting, and other auxiliary tasks, is currently underway.
Neither Treñas nor the city officials present provided a specific start date for the market’s operations.
The new market will feature 185 stalls, a significant increase from the original 60, according to Maricel Mabaquiao, head of the Local Economic Enterprise Office (LEEO).
Mabaquiao said that current vendors, temporarily relocated to the district’s covered gym next door, will be given priority for these stalls.
The first floor of the market will house traditional dry and wet goods sections and a delivery bay, while the second floor will offer food stalls, ‘paluto’ (cook on request) eateries, a food court, an activity center, and parking spaces accommodating 30 cars and 47 motorcycles.
Additionally, the structure includes provisions for a potential third floor to expand capacity as needed.
“These are different markets now because we want them to be clean and accessible to the public. If they have vehicles, they can come up [to the second floor] and park. It will be ready for a third floor if needed,” Mayor Treñas said.
He also committed to maintaining the existing rental rates for vendors, although he did not specify how long this would last.
If opened as planned, this will mark the first public market to reopen under the city government’s extensive market redevelopment effort, which began in 2021 after prolonged consideration by previous administrations.
The redevelopment plan also includes the Iloilo City Public (Central) and Terminal (Super) markets in the City Proper, the Jaro Big Market, the La Paz Public Market, and the Mandurriao Public Market. Funding for the City Proper, Jaro, and La Paz markets comes from a P2.75-billion loan from the Development Bank of the Philippines, while the Mandurriao project, costing P100 million, is financed through the Department of Public Works and Highways.
