City Mayor Blames Capitol Exec for Market Rehab Delay

By Joseph Bernard A. Marzan

Iloilo City Mayor Jerry Treñas on Monday, Feb. 24, 2025, blamed Iloilo provincial information chief Jose Nereo Lujan for delays in the rehabilitation of the Iloilo Central and Terminal Markets in the city’s downtown.

While not directly naming Lujan, Treñas alluded to someone “about to be served his warrant of arrest” as the cause of the delay.

In July 2024, Lujan filed an administrative complaint against Treñas with the Office of the Ombudsman-Visayas over the demolition of the Central Market’s 80-year-old Art Deco façade.

“It was delayed because a person filed a case. When it was resolved and the National Historical Commission of the Philippines approved [the demolition], construction continued,” Treñas said during his press conference.

“Who delayed the completion of the markets? The person who filed the case. Do you know [him]? The one to be issued a warrant of arrest,” he added.

Lujan’s motions for reconsideration in three counts of cyberlibel—filed against him by Treñas—were recently dismissed by the prosecutor’s office.

“I’m just letting [Lujan] post more so I can add more charges. Someone’s just watching. Someone’s doing CCTV on his Facebook posts,” the mayor said.

Treñas stated that the two markets are slated to reopen in May, though the official dates have yet to be finalized.

Vendors will be allowed to re-enter the markets before May, with the city government already coordinating the decommissioning of surrounding temporary stalls.

The mayor also plans to repurpose the galvanized iron sheets and plywood from the temporary stalls as emergency shelters.

“We have been planning how to dismantle the temporary stalls because the ones made by SM don’t look temporary. They have thick galvanized iron sheets and plywood. It would be a waste if we couldn’t use them,” he said.

The Iloilo City government signed a 25-year lease with SM Prime Holdings in 2022, which includes the redevelopment of the market facilities.