Councilor Ragde Niño Ibuyan, chairperson of the Committee of Government Enterprises and Privatization of the City Council of Davao, is proposing for the general refurbishing of the Bankerohan Public Market.
Ibuyan said part of the plans is to improve the second floor of the market as well as open a Pasalubong Center.
Ibuyan added that the public market has now become one of the tourist destinations in Davao City that travelers frequent.
“Mas guapo kung tagaan nato na ug general improvement kay dinha gakompra halos tanan. Ug isa ni sa pinakadako na public market sa Mindanao. Pagwapuhon nato ug puwede ta magbutang didto ug Pasalubong Center ug mag display ug unique products,” he said over Davao City Disaster Radio (DCDR) on Thursday.
In April 2025, Agoda described Bankerohan Public Market as “a bustling hub and a vibrant cultural and culinary experience that draws both locals and visitors alike. With its colorful stalls brimming with fresh produce, local delicacies, and artisan crafts, Bankerohan is a true reflection of Davao’s rich heritage and community spirit.”
Ibuyan said it is important to improve the second floor to attract customers.
“Ang concern ana pag naa sa second floor ang mga baligya dili na musaka ang mga mamalengke sa second floor,” Ibuyan said.
In May last year, Mayor Sebastian “Baste” Duterte directed the demolition of stalls encroaching the surrounding roads and sidewalks of Bankerohan Public Market to ease traffic congestion and to ensure fair treatment for market vendors who have been paying rents inside the market premises.
Some vendors were relocated to the second floor of the market; however, they expressed concerns about low sales, poor hygiene, like pigeon droppings, and inconvenient access for some marketgoers.
Some vendors have left due to low earnings, while others store products in vehicles to sell on the ground floor for better income.
According to Ibuyan, Bankerohan Public Market has generated P60.7 million in revenue in 2024 due to its modernization.
In 2022, Duterte led the launch of the inclusive, digital cashless payment system in a local public market, the Paleng-QR Ph, in Bankerohan Public Market.
A joint initiative of the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) and the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG), Paleng-QR Ph enables and promotes the use of digital payments in public markets and public transportation services using the QR Ph technology.
