Mayor Alfredo Abelardo Benitez said on Wednesday, August 24, that a public-private partnership or a loan are among the options being studied to fund the rehabilitation of the three main markets of Bacolod City.

“We will see what we can afford,” he said.

“There is an initial plan, I will have to discuss this with the stakeholders, with the vendors, so they can give their suggestions,” Benitez said.

The initial proposal is for the allocation of P1.5 billion for the rehabilitation of the Burgos, Libertad and Central markets, City Administrator Pacifico Maghari III said.

He said P500 million per market is being eyed.

The costing and where to source the budget is being studied, Maghari also said.

The target is to complete the rehabilitation within the term of Benitez, he said.

The mayor wants to make sure that the vendors will not have a hard time and can make a profit also, he said.

“Once we source the funds, the work will start,” Maghari said.*