Incumbent 1st district representative and Marikina City mayoral candidate Bayani Fernando said on Thursday, April 7, that he plans to renovate the city’s main public market and turn it into the world's "longest street mall" and build a supplemental underground parking area if he wins in the upcoming elections.

In a Facebook video, Fernando said the city’s 11-hectare market will be renovated to become the “longest street mall” in the world.

These efforts include attaching non-slip tiles on the floors and fixing posts, ceilings, and sealing roofs to prevent leakages whenever it rains.

More lights will also be installed to illuminate the market for customers who wish to shop at night.

The cleanliness of the market will be retained by improving its food laboratory where meat will be examined for freshness.

To complement the newly-renovated public market, Fernando also aims to construct an underground parking area located beneath the Marikina Sports Park.

It will be built under the Track and Field area at the center of the park.

The parking may be utilized by individuals going to the market, the City Hall, the Amang Rodriguez Hospital, the Justice Hall, and the sports park itself.

The parking exits are targeted to be at the Sumulong Highway and Lark Street.

Fernando said this project may serve as a solution to address the lack of job opportunities in the city.

He added that the increasing population of the city calls for a refurbished public market that can offer services to a greater number of people and provide citizens with avenues for work.

It will accommodate the small businesses and stalls currently occupying the market while enticing other vendors to sell their products in the area.