MARKET OPENING. President Rodrigo Duterte leads the unveiling of the Narvacan Farmers Market in Barangay Santiago, Ilocos Sur on Friday (March 4, 2022). This is the country's "first solar-powered public market and commercial complex", according to Narvacan Mayor Luis Chavit Singson. (Photo from PIA-Ilocos Sur)
LAOAG CITY – President Rodrigo R. Duterte on Friday inaugurated the country's "first solar-powered public market and commercial complex" in Barangay San Antonio, Narvacan in Ilocos Sur which he said would bring in more business opportunities.
"This is an innovative solution and a testament of good governance in this part of the country ruled by the Ilocanos," Duterte said in his speech as he commended the integration of a renewable energy source to make the project more sustainable in the future.
The Chief Executive expressed hope that other local government units in the country would be inspired to follow suit after touring the new modern building of the Narvacan Farmers Market.
Duterte was toured around the spacious marketplace onboard a vintage vehicle prepared for him and his party.
Located on a more than 1.5-hectare lot along the national highway in Barangay San Antonio, Narvacan town, the newly-constructed public market has already accepted several stall applicants.
The exact amount of the project, however, has yet to be divulged as a Korean private firm along with the Luis Chavit Singson Group of companies has initiated the project to attract more investors and help revitalize the local economy in the region.
The huge farmers market can house 16 commercial shops, two food chains, 17 food stalls, 40 meat stalls, 40 fish and seafood stalls, 40 vegetable stalls, 40 fruits stalls, 12 agricultural supply stalls, 18 dry goods stalls, and a grocery shop.
Meant to usher the “golden age of infrastructure” in the municipality, Mayor Singson, in his short speech before the President, said the project would not only cater to the locals but also to its neighboring municipalities and provinces.
As part of the long-term plan, Singson said he envisions the huge commercial complex to be expanded into agri-tourism hubs including the construction of parks, plazas, and monuments as well as multi-purpose function halls for conferences, financial transactions, and socio-cultural gatherings among others.
Completed in December 2021 after it was started in May of the same year, the commercial complex can save up to 30-40 percent less of the regular electric bill, Singson said.
To complement the project, solar panels were likewise installed as roofings of the huge parking area to serve as a charging station of around 5,000 electric jeepneys in support of the government's modern transportation program. (PNA)
