ATOK, Benguet – The ongoing construction of the new 5-storey market building right at the center of the municipality recently gained support from concerned government officials following the pledge of an additional PhP20 million to ensure the continuous works for the completion of the structure.
Mayor Franklin Smith said that Rep. Eric Yap and Gov. Melchor D. Diclas both committed to provide PhP10 million each from their respective fund sources to sustain the multi-year implementation of the project until its projected completion in the next few years.
Initially, the municipal government earmarked some PhP15 million from its fund sources to start the construction of the market building after the demolition of the old structure.
“We want to maximize our available resources and the commitments from concerned government agencies to eventually complete the structure because we do not want to compromise the local government by acquiring a loan just to immediately complete the structure. We will make do with what is readily available for as long as there will be continuous works to complete the new market building,” Mayor Smith stressed.
He explained that the plan is that the first and second floors will be dedicated for parking for the increasing volume of vehicles in the municipality considering the flourishing tourist destinations, the third and floor floors will be the designed spaces for market vendors, especially the ones from the municipality, while the fifth floor will be a multipurpose center where gatherings will be conducted.
Mayor Smith expressed the local government’s gratitude to the market vendors for their utmost cooperation in allowing the demolition of the old structure to pave the way for the put up of the proposed multi-story structure where they will be located once completed.
Earlier, the local government projected that the put up of the 5-storey market building needs at least PhP130 million to be able to complete the whole structure.
He pointed out that the proposed new market building will serve as a show window of the municipality because of the influx of foreign and domestic tourists, especially that it is located along the Halsema highway leading to other major tourist destinations in the central Cordillera such as Sagada, Mountain Province and Banaue, Ifugao.
Atok hosts the second highest point in the Philippine highway system, the Northern Blossom Flower Farm, the Sakura Park and other flourishing agri-tourism destinations in the different parts of the municipality that entices visitors to consider the place as one of their must-see destinations when travelling to the different parts of the Cordillera.
Smith added that his administration will continue to lobby for more funds from concerned government agencies to fastrack the completion of the market structure and allow the aggressive promotion of the products of active micro, small and medium enterprises from the different parts of the municipality that will be patronized by both residents and tourists alike.
Concerned sectors in the municipality lauded the local government for the political will in prioritizing the put-up of a new multi-story building that will serve as the town’s show window that will help in spurring increased economic activities and sources of livelihood of the people. By Dexter A. See
