By Glazyl M. Jopson
BACOLOD CITY – The city government has allocated PHP 5 million to repair stalls at the Central Market in Barangay 12 after a fire destroyed 31 stalls in December 2024.
City Engineer Loben Rafael Ceballos said in an interview following a virtual meeting with Mayor Alfredo “Albee” Benitez that the 18 stalls completely destroyed by the fire have been cleared. An initial repair plan prioritizing these stalls has been submitted.
The market-in-charge has been tasked with identifying which of the 12 owners of partially damaged stalls wish to dismantle their structures.
Ceballos said the assessment highlighted the need to repair water supply, electrical connections, roofing, insulation, and flooring. However, the priority remains on the severely damaged stalls.
Partial repairs will begin once the bidding process is completed, with a uniform stall design, Ceballos added. The PHP 5 million funding was sourced from a trust fund.
The city has left it up to stall owners to determine how they will temporarily operate while repairs are underway.
The fire, which broke out on the morning of Dec. 13, 2024, caused an estimated PHP 4.75 million in damages. Among the affected businesses were tailoring shops, sari-sari stores, jewelry shops, and eateries.
The Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP)-6 is investigating the cause of the fire, which is believed to have started from an electrical connection in the ceiling based on initial evidence analysis.
Mayor Benitez, represented by councilors and Bacolod lone district Rep. Greg Gasataya, has turned over financial assistance to affected stall owners.
Fourteen tenants with totally damaged stalls received PHP 50,000 in total, while 11 others with partially damaged stalls received PHP 25,000.
