Three Iloilo public markets set for December opening

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By Rjay Zuriaga Castor

Three redeveloped public markets in Iloilo City are scheduled to open to vendors and shoppers next month, offering upgraded facilities and modernized layouts, the Local Economic Enterprise Office (LEEO) announced Friday, Nov. 28.

LEEO head Maricel Mabaquiao said the Arevalo Public Market will hold its soft opening on Dec. 5, followed by the Jaro Big Market on Dec. 10 and the La Paz Market on Dec. 16.

She said each market features a distinct architectural design.

The Arevalo Public Market façade draws inspiration from the Paraw Regatta Festival, an annual event in Arevalo District recognized as Asia’s oldest traditional sailboat race and the Philippines’ largest sailing competition.

The Jaro Big Market design reflects the “mestizo town” aesthetic, echoing classic ancestral houses associated with prominent Spanish Filipino families.

The La Paz Market retains its art deco gateway dating back to the 1930s and draws design elements from the district’s famous delicacy, La Paz Batchoy.

Mabaquiao said adjudication for original stallholders in all three markets has been completed, allowing the city to begin processing applications for new vendors.

She said the redevelopment expands stall capacity.

Arevalo Market, which previously had 117 original vendors, now offers 179 stalls.

Jaro Big Market can accommodate 193 original vendors with 547 stalls.

La Paz Market is set to host 359 vendors with 423 stalls.

“We can see that there is a buffer. There is more space for new vendors,” she said.

She said new vendor applications will prioritize transient vendors and service-based businesses such as phone repair, tailoring, and shoe and umbrella repair.

Mabaquiao said the city will now strictly enforce City Regulation Ordinance No. 2009-316, or the Iloilo City Market Code, including the “one stall per family” policy.

“In the new market, we really thoroughly checked it, and we explained to them that there is one stall, one family,” she said.

The soft openings will showcase additional market features, including access stairs, elevators, delivery and service zones, solar panels, generator sets, sprinkler and public address systems, rainwater harvesting facilities, Materials Recovery Facilities, and CCTVs.

The markets also include parking spaces.

Jaro Market offers 68 car slots and 62 motorcycle slots.

La Paz Market has 62 car and 20 motorcycle spaces.

Arevalo Market provides 36 car and 12 motorcycle slots.

Mabaquiao assured consumers that prices of goods will remain regulated despite the upgrades.

“We have a price monitoring every week, and our Department of Trade and Industry actually conducts a survey on price monitoring at the same time as our office; every market has a price monitoring,” she said.

Market security will be reinforced with market guards and enforcers.

Arevalo will have five personnel assigned, while Jaro and La Paz will each have about 10 personnel.

She said rental fees will not increase and will continue to follow the city’s existing market ordinance.

Under the market code, lease contracts are valid for three years, but Mabaquiao said the LEEO is proposing annual renewals to ensure regular validation of vendors.