City seeks markets turnover from SM Prime to fix delays

By Rjay Zuriaga Castor and Estrella Urquiola

Recurring flooding, leaking pipes, clogged drainage, and water ponding at the newly redeveloped Iloilo Central Market and Iloilo Terminal Market have delayed repairs because the two facilities have yet to be formally turned over to the Iloilo City government, Iloilo City Mayor Raisa Treñas-Chu said.

The markets reopened in October 2025 following redevelopment by SM Prime Holdings Inc. under a public-private partnership.

“We have had difficulty coordinating. Once the market is turned over to the city, it will be much easier for us to address these issues,” Treñas-Chu said Monday, July 13.

She said the immediate turnover of the markets to the city government would expedite repairs to recurring maintenance issues.

Treñas-Chu said she has already asked SM Prime to expedite the turnover, explaining that repair requests currently have to pass through the company’s Manila office, slowing the process.

“I told SM to turn it over to the city because waiting for approvals from Manila takes too long. Once it is turned over to us, we can immediately act on the problems,” she said.

She added that the remaining repairs are relatively minor and could be completed more quickly once the city assumes management of the markets.

Market days under review

The city government is again seeking a win-win solution to issues confronting the city’s public markets following complaints from market vendors that the presence of bolanteros has reduced their earnings.

Treñas-Chu said the city is reassessing the arrangement to arrive at what she described as a “win-win” solution for both permanent stallholders and bolanteros.

The review was prompted by a letter from the Federation of Iloilo City Public Markets that urged the city government to reconsider allowing bolanteros — many of whom come from towns outside Iloilo City — to sell during designated market days and night markets.

The federation argued that the policy has adversely affected vendors inside the city’s public markets, many of whom pay rental fees and have operated their stalls for decades.

“We are looking for a place for them [bolanteros]. But first, we have to protect our vendors. Some have been doing business for more than 30 years, while others have been there for over 40 years,” she said.

“We have to protect them while listening to both sides and finding a win-win solution for everyone,” she said.

Treñas-Chu said she has already discussed the matter with Iloilo Gov. Arthur Defensor Jr., noting that the provincial government is also exploring possible alternatives for vendors from the province.

The provincial government is discussing the establishment of a food terminal at Vista Mall Oton, which will serve as a farmers market where local producers can sell their goods directly to consumers.

The mayor clarified that the current market-day arrangement is not yet permanent because it has not been enacted through a city ordinance.

“It has not yet been passed as an ordinance. What we have now is only a schedule,” she said, adding that the existing arrangement may still be adjusted.

A rotational market-day program was launched by the Local Economic Enterprise Office (LEEO) in March, allowing accredited bolanteros from both Iloilo City and neighboring municipalities to sell legally on designated days in the city’s six public markets.

The schedule currently allows bolanteros to sell at Iloilo Central Market from Monday evening to Tuesday morning; Iloilo Terminal Market from Tuesday evening to Wednesday morning; Jaro Big Market from Wednesday evening to Thursday noon; Mandurriao Market from Friday evening to Saturday morning; La Paz Market from Saturday morning to Sunday noon; and Arevalo Market on Sunday afternoon.

The LEEO previously said the market-day arrangement was the “win-win” solution agreed upon by market vendors’ associations, individual stallholders, and market administrators to accommodate the bolanteros.