The Food Terminal Market of Negros Occidental (FTMON) here is expected to open in the coming weeks as one of the economic enterprise initiatives of the provincial government.

Governor Eugenio Jose Lacson said on Tuesday that he hopes the province will be able to officially open the facility for business this June or next month at the latest.

“What’s important now is by the time we are open, everything is in place. We hope to open it within this month, (if not) at least not beyond July,” he said in a radio interview.

On May 29, Lacson led Capitol officials in inaugurating the Food Terminal Market, located at the corner of North Capitol Road and San Juan Street, and across the Ayala Malls Capitol Central, as part of the Negros Culture Hub Circuit, which features nine tourism sites in the vicinity of the Provincial Capitol building.

“Yes, we’re excited about it. It’s a nice place. It’s important that we can operate it well and keep it clean at all times,” the governor said, adding that the Food Terminal Market’s potentials should be maximized so that the province can generate enough income from its operation under the Economic Enterprise Development Department.

With a project cost of PHP114.6 million, the two-story building has 13 rentable kitchens, 14 rentable storage areas, 10 “bagsakan” areas, 10 food kiosks, 24 fish stalls, seven meat stalls, eight dry goods stalls, and 16 vending kiosks on the ground floor.

The second floor has several conference and function rooms for small meetings and large gatherings.

Before the new building was constructed, the area was popularly known as the “pala-pala” food terminal, where fresh seafood was sold, and customers had these cooked and consumed in stalls by the roadside.

As part of the Negros Culture Hub Circuit, the Food Terminal Market is the ninth and final stop, where guests can enjoy Negrense cuisine. (PNA)