By Mae Singuay

The Bacolod City government has ruled out its earlier plan for the construction of the new Burgos Market through a public-private partnership (PPP).

Mayor Alfredo Abelardo Benitez, during a press conference yesterday, said the city government’s plan for the Burgos Market construction will not push through because the private lot owner was not amenable to their proposal.

“The city proposed to the owner of the lot for a PPP, but the property owner declined,” Benitez said.

They are considering buying the property, instead of spending on rent.

“We are negotiating with the owner. If they agree to sell their property to the city immediately, we will buy it,” Benitez said.

The city government is supposed to rent the adjacent two-hectare property to be the temporary venue for market vendors during the market rehabilitation.

The property costs more than P900 million, based on its zonal value of P46,000 per square meter.

The city government is eyeing acquiring the property within this month, so that the construction of a new market will be started.

“We would have a permanent market and there will be no disruption to their livelihood,” Benitez said.

“Burgos Market will be one of the centers of commerce because we will have enough facilities and space for them to promote commercial activities,” he added.

Engineer Loben Ceballos, City Engineer’s Office officer-in-charge, said they allocated P525 million for the Burgos Market rehabilitation, which was sourced from the city government’s P4.4 billion loan./MS, WDJ