Bacolod Mayor Evelio Leonardia led the inauguration of the newly-renovated meat section of the Libertad public market on Monday, a press release from the city said.
The improved section includes 18 long steel meat tables and each table can accommodate two vendors.
The project, worth about P4.7 million, was funded under the city’s Annual Investment Program (AIP) in 2019.
“Despite the pandemic, Bacolod didn’t stop. We are far from what we had achieved last year, but we are still among the better cities. The National Competitiveness Council has just declared us the ‘Most Competitive City in the Visayas’. This is a big morale booster,” Leonardia said.
He added, “Once this pandemic is over, for sure the progress of Bacolod will also return. I can guarantee you that.”
Assistant city administrator Allyn Luv Dignadice said that meat vendors, numbering to about 31, can start occupying the meat section starting today, the press release said.
Vice Mayor El Cid Familiaran said the monthly rental in the steel meat section is about P500, while the other booths are P600. “This is like the charity of Bacolod to its citizens,” he said.
City Administrator Em Ang said, “Our markets may have one of the cheapest rental rates in the country.”
This market repair and rehabilitation project is a fulfillment of the commitment of Grupo Progreso. There are still incoming projects to further this renovation, she added.
Mark Mayo, who represented Rep. Greg Gasataya, said, “Through the cooperation of our vendors who strictly observe health protocols, this project of Bacolod will be fruitful.” The inauguration was also attended by Councilor Bart Orola, chair of the Sangguniang Panlungsod Committee on Markets and Slaughterhouses, Councilor Renecito Novero, executive assistant Ernie Pineda, acting market supervisor Jonah Abao, Marlon Solidum, and Efren Mangalos, president of the Bacolod City Market Vendors Association, the press release added.*