A conduct of a feasibility study regarding the planned construction of a two-storey market building to be constructed at the burnt section of the city public market is being requested by a city official. 

Vice mayor Daniel Fariñas, in his proposed resolution, asked mayor Reinaldo Bautista Jr. to form a technical working group to conduct a feasibility study which will be subject for review by the city council and other concerned city departments. 

“Due to the recent fire that destroyed a portion of the sari-sari section, there is a need to put up a building to accommodate the permanent occupants of the areas as well as to solve our perennial problem on illegal vending around the market,” Fariñas said. 

The official noted that even before a fire hit a portion of the market, it could be observed that the buildings within the city market are old and dilapidated, which may cause danger to market goers if disaster happens. 

He said that rehabilitating the city public market is a priority considering that it is the show window of the city, which means that it should look presentable not only to local residents but also to the visitors. 

The official further said that if the result of the feasibility study merits the construction of a two-storey building then the design and build scheme for the infrastructure must be in accordance to the implementing rules and regulations of Republic Act 9184 or the Government Procurement Act. 

To recall, a more than one-hour fire hit a portion of the city public market last April and affected stall owners initiated the rehab of their respective stalls. 

The planned rehabilitation of the whole city public market has long been overdue as a result of the civil case pending before the city court. 

City legal officer Melchor Rabanes earlier asked the city’s Regional Trial Court Branch 59 to dismiss the complaints and complaints-in-
intervention concerning the contract between the city government and Uniwide, a private firm contracted to develop the city public market.

The legal battle on the contract left the city public market to be in a state of disrepair and the rehabilitation never commenced since the contract and the bidding were approved 10 years ago.