New Mandaue City market to open soon

CEBU, Philippines —  The new Mandaue City Public Market will be open soon as the contractor of the multi-million peso project is now in the process of preparing for the formal turnover.

Mayor Jonas Cortes said they are expecting the turnover to be done before the city’s 50th Charter Day on August 30. The mayor’s announcement was welcomed with excitement by the 1,046 registered vendors who are expected to occupy the stalls in the market.

City administrator Atty. Jamaal Calipayan said the City Engineering Office and the contractor are already starting the preparations for the turnover.

“While we are doing that infrastructure, we are also processing sa pag-raffle and pag-award sa atong mga stalls ug eventual nga pagbalhin sa mga vendors sa new market,” Calipayan said.

Calipayan explained that among the preparations needed is the enactment of an ordinance for the allocation of the stalls and the delineation of the market sections. He said the proposed ordinance is now under review of the concerned committee in the City Council.

The city’s old public market at the back of Mandaue Sports and Cultural Center, which was damaged by the 2013 earthquake, will be demolished to pave the way for the construction of modular classrooms for Mandaue City College.

Cortes said the school needs more classrooms because of its growing number of students. The mayor, however, said that the construction will only commence after the new city jail in Barangay Basak is completed.

He said another school building will be constructed at the area to be vacated by the city jail in Barangay Looc. — FPL (FREEMAN)