- MITCH M. LIPA
The Negros Occidental Food Terminal Market, located across the Ayala Malls Capitol Central in Bacolod City, is all set for inauguration on Saturday, May 29.
Its construction started during the term of then Governor Alfredo Marañon Jr., with initial funding allocation of P500 million, sourced from a loan of the provincial government with a government bank.
Its operation is under the Economic Enterprise Development Department, and aims to provide small farmers with access to larger markets.
There are 13 rentable kitchens at the ground floor, as well as a Mambukal kitchen, and a food plaza for products and cuisines from the cities and towns of Negros Occidental. The area can accommodate up to 400 customers.
There are 16 stalls for fruits and a vegetable section, and eight stalls in the dry goods section. Twenty-four stalls are allotted in the fish section and seven units for the meat section.
The building also boasts of a bagsakan, or a seafood section, more popularly known as pala-pala, a favorite place of destination in Bacolod City since the 1970s. It is where people can buy fresh sea foods, and have those cooked and consumed.
At the second floor are function and conference rooms for meetings and small gatherings, for both government and private events.
The function room can accommodate up to 300 persons, and can be partitioned into smaller areas, depending on the number of attendees.
The Food Terminal Market will cater to both retail and wholesale. Stalls have also been added for more products and small businesses. — MML
