The Department of Budget and Management (DBM) has approved Mayor Evelio Leonardia’s request for P150-million financial assistance to fund the improvement and rehabilitation of Bacolod City’s three major public markets.
It was no less that Budget Secretary Wendel Avisado who informed Leonardia that the request for financial assistance has been approved.
The P150-million budget will be divided equally for the development of the Libertad Market, Burgos Market, and Central Market – each allocated with P50 million.
“This good news is, by far, the biggest single Local Government Support Fund (LGSF) we have ever received,” Leonardia said.
Before the request was approved, a series of consultations with the officers of market vendors’ associations had been conducted.
The City Engineer’s Office has also consulted the market vendors and officers during the preparation of the project’s Program of Works.
“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,” the mayor added.
Leonardia emphasized: “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… Our march to recovery will always be a team effort.”
Leonardia also thanked Vice Mayor El Cid Familiaran and the Sangguniang Panlungsod of Bacolod for “their prompt action in endorsing this project to the DBM.”
