STO. TOMAS, Pangasinan, Sept. 10 (PNA) — Finally, the only town in the province without its own public market and also the smallest, will soon have one.
Mayor Timoteo Villar III said construction of their public market starts this September, once the public bidding is through.
The initial budget for the public market project, according to Villar, will come from the Grassroots Participatory Budgeting fund worth P4.5 million and the town’s Performance Challenge Fund (PCF) worth P3 million.
The PCF was the cash incentive of the town for passing the Department of the Interior and Local Government’s Seal of Good Local Governance 2015.
The 7,000-square meter public market will be put up in front of Villa Sto. Tomas in the town proper, said Villar.
At present, Sto. Tomas residents are buying their goods from the public markets of neighboring towns of Alcala and Villasis.
“Previously, we conducted a public hearing as regards the public market construction and different stakeholders have vowed their support to the project,” said the Mayor.
He added, “Hindi pa nag-uumpisa marami nang nag-a-apply (for market stalls’ occupancy. (It has not started, yet there are many who already applied to operate market stalls)”.
Meanwhile, Sto. Tomas has been sustaining its status as the only certified illegal drug-free town in the country since 2014.
Villar said they conduct continuous drug-clearing operations and constant coordination with parents to maintain their peace and order.
The parents themselves are the ones who instruct their children not to go out during late night to prevent crimes, noting the cooperation of the community.
The town also has an existing ordinance imposing curfew hours for youth. (PNA)