A seafood market in the municipality of Estancia, funded by the national government, is expected to boost the tourism industry in the northern part of Iloilo province.

In an interview on Friday, Iloilo 5th District Rep. Raul Tupas said the project started three years ago with initial funding of PHP50 million.

“This market was designed for the program on tourism because northern Iloilo is receiving a lot of local and foreign tourists. It has a good location. It’s at the pier overlooking the islands,” Tupas said.

The congressman inspected the project Thursday afternoon with Estancia Mayor Mary Lynn Mosqueda.

Tourism arrival in Iloilo in 2023 reached 318,535, an increase of about 10 percent from the previous year.

The fifth district, where Estancia is located, accounted for around 40 percent of the arrivals.

The two-story market in Estancia port is 90 percent completed.

The market sectioning which can accommodate 200 stalls will soon follow. (PNA)