ECONOMY: Commerce

Trade and Commerce

The Pandan Public Market is the hub of the business district of the municipality. It is strategic in location with its north and south entrances facing two of the major thoroughfares in the poblacion. On the east side is also a street although business establishments here are privately-owned. On the south entrance spans Market Apartment "A" - a two storey building occupied by commodity/sari-sari stores, a drug store, a dress and tailoring shop, and a mixture of RTW and dry goods, with a billiard and recreation hall, including eatery and sign/billboard shop.

Inside the market are the old open main stall converted into eight (8) mini stalls, two long stalls fully occupied by stall holders and two open stalls of the same length parallel to one another that is used for dry fish, vegetable, and other goods. On the west side is the fresh fish and meat section that is bounded by Lomboyon Creek.

Other facilities include two (2) comfort rooms, one each for both male and female, with faucets and adjacent jetmatic pump, electrical power, and a concreted/paved open space for transient vendors during Fridays, the market day.

Around the market have mushroomed small and big business establishments. Privately-owned, they house 8 eateries, 2 bakeshops, 9 dress and tailoring shops, 3 lumber and hardware stores, RTW and dry goods stores, 2 motorcycle and bicycle spare parts stores, 3 grocery stores, 4 school and office supply store, 2 personal care and beauty/barber shop, a funeral service, 4 agro-chemical and feeds store, as well as a furniture/appliance shop.

Two gasoline filling stations are located in the perimeter of the nearby plaza. Other services available are 3 photocopying shops, a photo studio, 2 video tapes rental, truck and jeep body building, vulcanizing and repairs, cement hollow block making, furniture and carving, as well as hauling of sand and gravel offered by enterprising residents of the municipality.

Aside from the public market in the poblacion, there are also other satellite mini markets or "Talipapa" in the barangays of Patria and Sto. Rosario. Patria is strategically located in the northernmost tip of Pandan hence draws trade and business from people of adjacent municipality of Libertad. Moreover there is very little available transportation going to Libertad and Patria is more accessible especially on Mondays.

Sto. Rosario on the other hand was developed only when the Fisherman's Wharf was not utilized and the Sangguniang Barangay submitted a resolution for the establishment of a flea market to boast their revenue as the former mini market in Zaldivar ceased to exist due to mismanagement and thereby closed, and that Sto. Rosario was the recipient of the government's flea market program.

The proposed satellite markets in Idiacacan and Sta. Ana were chosen due to their strategic locations. Idiacacan is like Patria since it is on the southern tip of the municipality while Sta. Ana is in the hinterlands. Idiacacan will draw trade and business for the municipality on any day of the week except Sundays, Mondays and Fridays. Same is true with Sta. Ana, but most important is that it will lessen, if not stop, the going out of farm products from the area to Ibajay.

The existing Fisherman's Wharf at Barangay Zaldivar was installed during the year 1995. However at present, it is not operating due to fishing regulations being enforced by LIPASECU Baywide Management Council and fishing boats or "Basnigan" of local entrepreneurs are fishing somewhere in Aklan and Mindoro. Marine reserves had been declared which cannot be disturbed for some period of time to allow proliferation of the marine resources. It has been found out later that indigenous fishes, shells and other sea resources have returned to their former habitat and abundant supply is assured in the near future. The Local Government Unit is presently contemplating to have some dialogue with fisherfolks and "Basnigan" operators for the docking and use of the wharf. Added to these ventures are the flourishing cottage industries of which the prime targets are buyers from Aklan, Boracay and Europe where local Overseas Contract Workers (OCW's) are/had been working.

The volume of commercial transactions deal mostly on buying and selling of basic and commodity goods, livestock and poultry at reasonable prices. Shopping preference of local consumers have shifted to patronizing these goods rather than go to Kalibo and spend extra money for transportation.

Commerce and trade is particularly very brisk on Friday, market day and almost everyday from Monday to Sunday. There are five MTO personnel assigned in the collection of fees/revenues, maintenance of cleanliness, orderliness as well as peace and order in the market. Parking spaces for trucks, jeepneys, buses and tricycles are under the regulation and supervision of the Philippine National Police (PNP), Pandan Truck Operators, Drivers, and Conductors Association (PATRODCA), and Pandan Tricycle Operators and Drivers Association (P ATODA), providing smooth flow of traffic for the convenience of the general public.

Income generated from the public market yields a total of P1,980,819.91 for the period from 1995-1999. This gives an average yearly income of P396,163.98 for the total receipts from the market.

From 1995 under the current administration, a vigorous move towards developmental aspects gained momentum. At the advent of incumbency, the construction of the new concrete meat and fish stalls fully equipped with water and electrical installation made the market attractive to both entrepreneurs and buying public.

The present thrust for promotion of Eco-Tourism in the municipality can spell economic opportunities for local residents. However, this may also affect prices of local producers, particularly its marine and agricultural resources since there will be greater demand for commodities, prices might abnormally increase, affecting the capacity of local residents to purchase them.

Local legislators must see to it that their constituents will still enjoy the beauty of their seas and other products while catering to the demands and needs of tourists or transients. In this respect too, local government must continue to pursue progressive partnership with the private sector and civil society to attain socio-economic sustainability.