The Department of Budget and Management (DBM) has approved the release of P150 million for the improvement and rehabilitation of Bacolod’s three major public markets, Mayor Evelio Leonardia announced Tuesday, August 3.
DBM Secretary Wendel Avisado informed him that he has approved his request for the P150 million assistance, which is by far the biggest single Local Government Support Fund Bacolod has ever received, Leonardia said.
The Libertad, Central and Burgos markets will get P50 million each, the mayor said.
Meetings with the officers of the market vendors associations have been held, and the City Engineer’s Office has also consulted them during the process of preparing the Program of Works for the project, Leonardia said.
“This 150 million assistance will be a substantial investment in our three major markets to counter the unprecedented devastating health and economic consequences or impact of COVID-19,” he said.
“The primary purposes of this project are, among others, to meet sanitation standards, protect public health and restore economic prosperity. As part of our economic recovery program, this will give us a positive trajectory of our economic outlook,” he added.
The mayor also thanked Bacolod Vice Mayor El Cid Familiaran and the Sangguniang Panlungsod members for their prompt action in endorsing this project to the DBM.*