Iloilo City eyes to spend PHP 41.4M for markets, plaza ‘rehabilitation’

By Rjay Zuriaga Castor

The Iloilo City government is moving forward with the continued rehabilitation of its public markets and district plazas, lining up more than PHP 41.4 million worth of infrastructure projects for bidding this year.

Earlier in January, the city government posted an invitation to bid for the rehabilitation of the La Paz Public Market, with an approved budget of PHP 12.99 million and a contract duration of 90 days.

Bidding documents showed that funding for the project will come from the city’s capital outlay under Supplemental Budget No. 2 for 2025.

On Jan. 31, several sections of the La Paz Public Market were flooded following heavy rains, with reports also noting water leaks from portions of the ceiling.

In December 2025, the city government reopened the upgraded Arevalo, Jaro Big, and La Paz public markets, which were funded by the local government through a loan from the Development Bank of the Philippines.

The city government is also set to undertake another improvement project at Jaro Plaza, with a proposed contract cost of PHP 18.72 million and a contract duration of 150 days.

The Jaro Plaza project will be funded through the capital outlay under Supplemental Budget No. 1 for 2025.

Another project up for bidding is the rehabilitation and improvement of Mandurriao Plaza, amounting to PHP 9.66 million and also carrying a 150-day contract period.

The Mandurriao Plaza project will likewise be charged to the capital outlay under Supplemental Budget No. 1.

Mandurriao Plaza has undergone phased rehabilitation since 2022, with Phase 1 costing about PHP 17 million and funded by the Department of Budget and Management under its Green, Green, Green program.

Initial works focused on drainage improvements, while the plaza partially reopened in 2023 with upgraded lighting and sound systems.

In December 2025, Mayor Raisa Treñas-Chu said the final phase of redevelopment for the city’s district plazas would be implemented this year.

Apart from markets and plazas, the city government is also bidding out two health-related infrastructure projects in 2025.

One project involves the construction of the ICARE Center at the Megaworld area in Mandurriao, with an approved budget of PHP 18.49 million and a contract duration of 360 days, funded through Supplemental Budget No. 1.

Another project up for bidding is the completion of the Center for Care for the Mentally Ill in Barangay Sooc, Arevalo, with an approved budget of PHP 24.26 million and a 240-day contract period, charged to the same budget source.