Central, Terminal markets set to reopen October 30

By Rjay Zuriaga Castor

The newly-rehabilitated Iloilo Central (Tienda Mayor) and Terminal (Super) Markets are set to be inaugurated on October 30, following several delays in their reopening, the city government announced.

City Mayor Raisa Treñas-Chu said on Thursday, October 15, that preparations are underway to ensure a smooth reopening of the two major public markets.

Treñas-Chu assured vendors that there will be no increase in stall rental fees once operations resume.

In February, former mayor Jerry Treñas signed an executive order deferring the implementation of increased rental rates for two years, from 2025 to 2026.

The deferment is meant to help vendors recover financially until they can fully reoccupy their designated stalls.

Treñas-Chu emphasized that all legitimate vendors with legal claims to stalls will retain their spaces through a fair and transparent adjudication process managed by the Market Committee and the Local Economic Enterprise Office (LEEO).

She also warned against profiteering and said vendors must keep goods affordable and accessible to all Ilonggos.

“The LEEO will ensure that no one abuses or takes advantage by increasing prices of goods,” she said.

To uphold cleanliness in the markets, Treñas-Chu issued Executive Order No. 077 institutionalizing the Limpyo Merkado Program as a regular sanitation initiative.

“As we push forward, our goal remains the same — to provide vendors with a better, cleaner, and more comfortable market that supports the growth of our local economy,” she added.

Earlier this week, demolition crews began clearing makeshift stalls along De Leon and Rizal Streets near the Terminal Market.

Vendors said they were informed in an on-the-spot meeting to vacate their spaces starting October 16 as part of preparations for the reopening.

They claimed they were not given enough time or provided with alternative spaces to continue earning a living while waiting to be reassigned stalls.

Fish vendors near Rizal-Fuentes Street also lost their stalls as the demolition continued.

With no immediate relocation site, many were forced to sell in the middle of the road just to stay in business.

LEEO head Maricel Mabaquiao said in an interview that the problem stemmed from “miscommunication.”

She said around 20 affected vendors had already been informed that they would be temporarily relocated to Jalandoni Street before being transferred to the Terminal Market.

Mabaquiao explained that the road clearing was necessary to allow drainage repairs at the market entrance along De Leon Street.

She added that stall adjudication had already been completed via a raffle, and vendors would begin moving back inside by October 16.

Still, some vendors insisted they were caught off guard and left without relocation or income for days.

The market redevelopment is part of a public-private partnership between the Iloilo City Government and SM Prime Holdings Inc.

Under the agreement, SM Prime manages the leased sections while the city retains oversight of other operations.