By Gerome Dalipe
Vendors at the newly modernized Arevalo, La Paz, and Jaro public markets can expect relief as market rental hikes have been deferred for two years.
Mayor Jerry Treñas issued an executive order postponing the scheduled rate increase from 2025 to 2026 to help vendors transition to their upgraded stalls.
The City’s Local Economic Enterprise Office has been directed to suspend the implementation of higher rental rates until 2026, giving vendors more time to adjust to their new environment.
“The temporary relocation has affected their income, so we see the need to lighten their burdens until they are fully settled,” Treñas said.
The city government aims to inaugurate the Central and Terminal Markets this year, followed by upgrades to the Arevalo, La Paz, and Jaro public markets.
Phase 1 of the La Paz and Jaro markets is expected to be completed by April 2025, while the first phase of the Arevalo Market has already been finalized.
Phase 2 for all three markets will begin in the second quarter of 2025 and is projected to be completed by year’s end. These improvements will ensure full operational capacity with enhanced infrastructure and amenities.
Beyond physical upgrades, the city government has prioritized equipping vendors with skills to thrive in a modernized marketplace.
So far, 324 vendors across 14 batches have completed training programs focused on business management, customer service, and market operations.
The revamped public markets will feature state-of-the-art facilities for improved accessibility and convenience.
Each of the La Paz, Arevalo, and Jaro markets will include two passenger elevators, while the Central and Terminal Markets—developed through a public-private partnership (PPP) with SM—will also offer advanced amenities to enhance the shopping experience for vendors and consumers.
Treñas said the modernization efforts aim to create a more inclusive and dynamic Iloilo City.
“Through these efforts, we are not only modernizing public markets but also creating a city that better serves both our vendors and the public,” Treñas said.
