Redeveloped La Paz Public Market Opens, Offering a More Comfortable and Safer Shopping Experience

The redeveloped La Paz Public Market was officially opened Tuesday, December 16 in a soft opening led by Mayor Raisa Treñas, together with city councilors and market vendors.

In her message, Mayor Treñas emphasized that the market’s redevelopment was planned not only to enhance its appearance but, more importantly, to make it more comfortable, clean, and safe for both residents and vendors. “Life inside the market is now easier because it is more peaceful and organized. This market was designed and implemented not just to look good, but to better serve the needs of the community,” the mayor said.

Mayor Treñas also shared her personal connection to La Paz, recalling childhood memories of visiting the area with her family. “La Paz is very close to my heart. When we were young, our father would bring us here to eat batchoy,” she said, referring to the district’s reputation as the “Home of Batchoy.”

The redeveloped La Paz Public Market can now accommodate 359 existing stallholders and offers 423 additional kiosks for new vendors. Its two-storey structure features a façade inspired by the iconic Art Deco heritage gateway along Huervana Street, originally built in the 1930s and still standing today.

The market is equipped with modern and functional facilities, including parking spaces for 62 vehicles and 20 motorcycles, access stairs and an elevator, loading and unloading bays for public utility jeepneys, delivery bays, and a service road. Safety and efficiency features include a sprinkler system, generator set, public address system, rainwater harvesting facility, septic vault, and cistern tanks.

Individual grease traps were installed for eateries as well as the fish and meat sections, along with provisions for a sewage treatment plant (STP). Security has also been strengthened through the installation of closed-circuit television (CCTV) cameras throughout the market.

“I would like to thank everyone who worked hard to make our vision of redeveloping our public markets a reality,” Mayor Treñas added, expressing hope that the renewed La Paz Public Market will serve as a model of a modern, clean, and well-organized public market in the city.

The opening of the redeveloped La Paz Public Market is seen as a significant step in Iloilo City’s ongoing efforts to upgrade its public markets, providing a better environment for trade and daily transactions for Ilonggos.