ILIGAN City ― The long-delayed Palao Market construction is finally set to resume this month, according to city administrator Dr. Darwin Manubag.
Speaking on local radio earlier this week, Manubag confirmed that the Construction Industry Arbitration Commission (CIAC) has continued the project, despite lingering issues with the previous contractor, BM Marketing.
BM Marketing, which started the P583 million project in February 2020 under former Mayor Celso G. Regencia, was terminated by the new administration of Mayor Frederick Siao in April last year.
The decision came after the project, initially scheduled for completion by December 31, 2021, faced multiple delays and seven extension requests.
When the contractor sought another extension following the 2022 elections, the city government not only denied the request but also decided to terminate the contract altogether.
BM Marketing took the matter to court, but the case was redirected to the CIAC, which recently determined that the market was 99.6% complete—a decision that left Mayor Siao less than thrilled.
Despite the ongoing dispute over unpaid dues to BM Marketing, a new, unnamed contractor is reportedly ready to take over.
Signs of activity around the construction site, including the clearing of overgrown banana plants and vines that had taken over the fenced area, suggest that work may resume soon.
