Valenzuela City Mayor Weslie “Wes” Gatchalian announced on Monday, Sept. 5, that the city government will rehabilitate the Pamilihang Bayan ng Polo (Polo Public Market) to provide a modernized and improved market for the vendors and residents.
He made the announcement during a public consultation and general assembly of the market officials and vendors at the Sentro ng Sama-samang Serbisyo (3S) Center in Barangay Polo.
The city government said it plans to start the rehabilitation of the public market in the second week of September, which will be completed in eight months.
The market upgrade has an estimated P14.5 million budget.
Gatchalian emphasized the importance of efficient collection of monthly rentals from the market vendors.
“Suportahan niyo kami by paying on time ng mga kailangang bayaran. Pag collection equivalent niyan ay renovation. After renovation ay mas maganda at kumportableng serbisyo sa inyong kliyente. Mas lalakas ang inyong negosyo.”(Support us by paying what needs to be paid on time. The equivalent of collection is renovation. After renovation, there will be better and more comfortable services to your client. Your business will improve),” Gatchalian said.
District 1 Councilor Ghogo Deato Lee, Committee on Market and Slaughterhouse chairman, and some Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) officials assured that the vendors’ businesses will not be affected by the rehabilitation.
They explained that they have studied the market vendors’ time table and that the construction will commence every 1 p.m. when the market is on break.
“Hinihiling po namin na dumating ang panahon na matapos na, dapat ay maging disiplinado tayong bawat market vendors. Kung ano man ang paghihigpit namin sa pagiging malinis at disiplinado, eto po ay kailangan upang mapanatili ang pagbabago sa palengke (We request for the market vendors to be disciplined when the construction is completed. Any restriction we make for cleanliness and discipline is needed to maintain the changes in the market),” Lee said.
The local government said that the Polo Public Market was constructed in 1990 to 1991 during the term of former Mayor Santiago de Guzman.
It added that the rehabilitation of the Polo Public Market will be the biggest market rehabilitation program of Mayor Gatchalian in his first term.