3 weeks ago
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ILOILO CITY — Mayor Jerry Treñas of this city has attributed the delay in the completion of renovation of the city's two major markets to an administrative complaint filed in July 2024.
Treñas, in a press conference on Monday announced that the Iloilo Terminal and Central Markets will be inaugurated in May this year — five months later than the initially projected completion date of December 2024.
It was delayed because of the charges filed by someone. When it was resolved and approved by the National Historical Commission of the Philippines, the construction continued," he said.
"Who triggered the delay in the completion of the market? It's the individual who filed a case [...] The one who is yet to be served by a warrant of arrest," he added.
While he did not explicitly name who he was referring to, Treñas was alluding his statements to Jose Nereo Lujan, head of the Iloilo Provincial Information and Community Affairs Office (Picao).
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Lujan has recently been indicted by a local prosecutor of three counts of cyber libel over Facebook posts allegedly containing false, libelous, malicious and defamatory statements against the city mayor.
Lujan, who claimed he was acting as a cultural advocate, filed an administrative complaint in the Office of the Ombudsman on the redevelopment of the Central Market, particularly the demolition of the 80-year-old art deco façade.
In his 17-page complaint, the Picao chief accused the mayor of grave misconduct, grave abuse of authority, conduct unbecoming and actions detrimental to public service after allegedly violating laws protecting a declared important cultural property.
With the inauguration set for May, Treñas said vendors displaced by the renovation may be able to transfer to the modernized market as early as April.
"Since last month, we have already been planning how to demolish the temporary stalls of the SM Prime Holdings Inc. (SMPHI)," he said.
In August 2022, the city government awarded a 25-year lease agreement to SMPHI to redevelop two significant public markets. The firm invested P3 billion, with P1.5 billion allocated for the modernization of each market.
The city government is also planning to repurpose the galvanized roofs and other materials used by the SMPHI in the construction of the temporary stalls.
"My plan is to make it as temporary shelters for residents that were affected by the fire," he said.
He also directed the City Engineer's Office to deploy additional demolition teams to expedite the stalls' demolition and the vendors' relocation.
