DANAO City officials clarified that the restoration of the “Merkado sa Danao” or the new city public market, already has an allocated budget.

Mayor Thomas Mark “Mix” Durano and Vice Mayor Ramon “Nito” Durano II made separate statements, reassuring residents that the market’s rehabilitation is fully funded and moving forward.

The clarifications came after 5th District Congressman Vincent Franco “Duke” Frasco offered P100 million for the market’s restoration, contingent on his endorsed mayoral candidate, Migs Magpale, winning in the upcoming election.

During his visit in Danao on October 14, Frasco pledged the amount, stating, “Mu saad ko nga muhatag ug P100 Million alang sa bag-ong merkado kung si Migs Magpale na ang mayor.”

Magpale, who is a relative and former ally of the Duranos, has filed his candidacy to run as Danao mayor. He will face Vice Mayor Nito, whileMayor Mix will run against Frasco.

Mayor Mix emphasized that the market has sufficient funds and will be completed as planned.

He suggested that the proposed P100 million in government funds could be better allocated to other projects, such as finishing the municipal building in Liloan or expanding health services in the 5th district.

“Appropriated ug budgeted nana ang Merkado sa Danao. Mahuman nana siya. Ang 100M (million) government funds mas maayo i-allocate sa uban project,” he said.

Vice Mayor Nito, in a separate post, confirmed that the budget for the market restoration had been secured through consultations and proper City Council sessions.

He highlighted that Danao City could restore the market without external assistance, indirectly addressing concerns raised by others.

“Appropriated ang Merkado. Nag-agi ta og consultation ug sessions ani,” he said.

The restoration of Merkado sa Danao began last year on October 18, following a fire on June 2, 2022, that caused P52.2 million worth of damage. The market was built 29 years ago with funding from the Japanese government through the Japan International Cooperation Agency.

The vice mayor said that the city secured a P500 million loan from the Development Bank of the Philippines (DBP), with P400 million earmarked for the market’s reconstruction and P100 million for a new abattoir in Barangay Cambanay.

The old abattoir, located near the market, will be replaced by a new government center.

Danao City, a third-class component city in northern Cebu, recently ranked first in the Most Improved Component Cities category in the Cities and Municipalities Competitiveness Index (CMCI) Program, which was released in August 2024.

The CMCI measures local government performance and helps identify areas in need of improvement.(MyTVCebu)

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• #Danao City
• #Merkado sa Danao
• #Mix Durano
• #Ramon Nito Durano II
• #Duke Frasco
• #Migs Magpale
• #Cebu Politics