By Haidee V. Eugenio
Variety News Staff

THE Department of Public Works awarded an estimated $70,000-contract to EFC Engineers & Architects for the architectural and engineering design of the Garapan public market. The project has long-been planned by the Department of Lands and Natural Resources.
DLNR Secretary Richard Seman, in an interview with Variety, expressed confidence that the project will finally get off the ground by early next year.
“We have been getting a lot of support for this long overdue project. If anything goes well, we might have the public market by early 2005,” he said.
He added, “The contract is about $70,000 and we expect to see a preliminary plan shortly.”
The public market will sit on a 5,000- square meter lot by the Garapan Fishing Base area, across the road from the Kristo Rai Church in Garapan.
Seman, however, said DLNR continues to request the Marianas Public Lands Authority to increase the lot area to 10,000 sq.m.
He said DLNR provided EFC Engineers & Architects with their own ideas about the design of the public market, which will have two major buildings: one for fish products and another for agricultural or farm produce.
He said the buildings will be connected by a large hallway where processed food products can also be sold.
A shaded walkway, he said, will also lead to a food court, while the other walkway will feature handicrafts and gift shops with locally-made products.
Acting DPW Secretary Joseph P. Rosario established June 7 as the official notice for EFC Engineers & Architects to proceed with the project.
Seman said the “experimental stage” of the public market project has proven “very successful.” He was referring to the Sabalu Market in Susupe every Saturday.
Once the public market in Garapan is completed, Seman said the Sabalu Market in Susupe will be stopped. Another test for Saipan’s readiness for a permanent public market is the Garapan street market held only every Thursday night.
Seman said the centralized public market is where all farmers, ranchers, fishermen and other businesses could bring in their fresh fruits, vegetables, caught fish and other products to sell, and where residents and businesses could buy them at low prices daily.