The biggest eyesore in the city will soon be eradicated after public pulse jived with the plan of the Lim administration to convert the unfinished Agora Market into a commercial or business center.

In a survey conducted by HNU Research Center, 49% want the structure to become a commercial complex to be rented by business firms with varied services.

WITHIN 8 MONTHS. The much criticized unfinished Agora will soon rise as the Tagbilaran Business Centre right in the heart of the city as Mayor Dan Lim orders work to commence in July this year.

This came in cadence with the pronouncement of City Mayor Dan Lim last week declaring that City Hall will open starting this month the acceptance of interested occupants of the site.

During an interview with Mayor Lim yesterday, he showed to the Chronicle the blueprint of the proposed Tagbilaran Commercial Centre which construction will commence in July this year. He vowed to complete the project by the first quarter of next year. The city government will allocate not more than P50 million, enough to make the structure ready for interested occupants.

He said that the business center is open to interested firms like call centers, banks, insurance firms, high-end food chains and other basic services needed in this growing metropolis.

The mayor further said that the development of the Agora will undergo consultation with the Sangguniang Panlungsod even as he gave the green light to expedite the evaluation and acceptance of applicants starting this month.

"I want this eyesore out by the end of this year," the mayor said as he ordered his think-tank engineers at city hall to finalize the plan in order for those interested takers to appreciate.

Mayor Lim said that in order to fast track the project, the works will be handled by the administration. If work can commence in July, he wants the project to be completed in March 2007 or within eight months.

Lim said that for more than 10 years now, this idle structure right in the center of the city's commercial district has been neglected even as funds were earlier appropriated and used by the previous administration.

He wants the development of Agora to be private-sector driven so as to suite the requirements of those interested to do business in the area which is located in-between BQ Mall and Alturas Supermarket.