Construction of the multi-million Cogon Public Market is scheduled to start in November this year, said Tagbilaran City Mayor Baba Yap.

According to Yap, the project’s first phase which includes the compound’s burned segment and the public utility vehicle terminal is targeted to be completed within seven months.

“Na-aprobahan na nako ang program of works, hopefully by November magsugod na,” he said.

The dry goods section of the one-hectare market which was razed by a fire last month has already been cleared of rubble.

“Ang initial plano adto ang wet market man unta una pero nabali na nuon tungod kay nasunog man,” he added.

The Tagbilaran local government unit, even before the fire, planned for the facility’s rehabilitation and allocated a P30-million budget in 2019 for the multi-year project and P20 million for 2020.

Senator Christopher “Bong” Go who visited market vendors displaced by the fire, which left P3 million worth of property damage, also sourced a P30 million fund for the project.

Yap said that the additional budget is expected to make the market bigger and more “modern.”

“Mangayo gihapon ta. As maoy sige nako’g emention na di man ta magkuwang og pangayo sa mga kaila nato na senador, congressman, governor. Magsige man g’yud ta og pangayo,” he said.

According to Yap, they encountered “small resistance” from vendors with the market’s rehabilitation and expansion but they were adequately briefed on the situation wherein the old facility is no longer safe.

On July 10, a fire razed a large segment of the decades-old Cogon Public Market, burning down at least 80 stalls.

The vendors were initially transferred to the Remolador Extension Street but have already been allowed to return to the market grounds to sell their goods using tents provided by the local government unit. (R. Tutas)