“The Agora Perimeter Building was originally funded in the amount of P64-million but it was increased up to P82-million to finish the project because of some changes introduced from the original design which caused the project’s shortage of funding,” Mayor Samuel Co told www.unsapa.com.

The design of the roofing of this two storey building was replaced from the original GI sheet to colored brick-style with roofing insulator for proper ventilation; the width were expanded from the original six meters to eight meters with the addition of a rest room and lavatory, complete with septic tank per stall, Mayor Co explained.

The City Engineers Office (CEO) recommended to have piles driven after it found out that the vicinity where the Agora is now constructed is formerly a swampy area. “Reclamation of the area with dumped soil cannot assure the safety of the building so we need to drive piles costing P3-million,” city engineer Felix Sabado said.

After the completion of Phase I, the city will bring together funding for the second phase, in the amount of P15-million, to be taken from the regular budget of the city. Phase II construction will include the finishing touches and the fitting of floor tiles, partitions, ceiling, windows and doors and electrical wirings.

The perimeter building has five big towers and four small towers with rest rooms, one big tower will be occupied by the Office of the Market superintendent and its staff, the two towers are for the Philippine Army and the Police to augment our civilian security and the other two big towers and four small towers will cater for office space for rent.

The said edifice occupied the entire block of F.S Pajares Avenue with 29 stalls, along W. Pulmones Street with 36 stalls, and 29 stalls along Gov. S. Datoc Street, or a total of 94 stalls. All ground floor facing outside the Agora will be occupied by new entries among businessmen, engaged in dry goods like hardware, motor parts, electronics and electrical supplies, ready to wear (RTW) items including personal services like beauty parlor and barbershop, agricultural supplies, drug stores, and reading materials.

At the back of those stalls will be occupied by the vendors inside agora who are affected in the renovation that were occupying temporary stalls.

The apportionment of the stalls was marked by controversy, read here now Mr. Deleverio's column and Mayor Sammy  Co's rebuttal here.

The second floor will be divided into different sections, the carenderia and cafeteria sections in food court system with common tables at the center, watch and cellular phone repair shop, others and office space in the towers.

“With the opening of the perimeter building, from the 94 stalls alone the city government is expecting almost P8-million a year gross income at P7-thosand per stall rental. Less operating expenses, we are expecting a net income of P4-million. This is enough to pay our loans and to fund also our wet market for renovation next year and other development like the beautification inside the Agora. We are also solving our problems on street vendors that contribute to traffic problem particularly in the downtown commercial area. We will not allow any single vendor seen in our city street,” Co added.

“We are very lucky to have this project started early on 2006 because if we have to do it now the P150-million is not enough to build this edifice,” Sammy Co disclosed.

Last update : 17-04-2008 13:06

Average user rating

   (0 vote)