“We wish to provide economic opportunities to our people,” said DLNR Secretary Dr. Ignacio T. Dela Cruz in an interview with the Variety.
Garapan was the original location for the proposed market, but As Perdido is now being considered, said Dela Cruz.
According to the DLNR proposal, Saipan is “lacking a centralized public market that can provide fresh produce and seafood to the community. Despite the number of fishermen and farmers on island, there is no centralized facility that can accommodate the two industries.”
A “community empowerment approach” will achieve this plan, DLNR added.
The proposal, it said, will also address public health and environmental concerns.
Lack of refrigeration and roadside selling of farm and fish produce compromises public health, Dela Cruz said.
“A visit to such a vendor reveals no particular care for handling the fish, pest controls and personal hygiene of the persons operating the stalls,” the DLNR proposal stated.
This attracts a host of pests, which potentially invites diseases.
The proposed central market will preserve and create jobs and promote economic recovery while assisting people affected by the recession, DLNR stated.
