The best place to buy fresh, locally-sourced goods in Dumaguete City is the Dumaguete City Public Market, also known as the tiangge. It has been a common practice for locals to visit the market to purchase ingredients for their daily meals for many years. People usually flock to the market as early as four o’clock in the morning to get the freshest fish and the best deals. Haggling is the norm here, creating a chaotic and noisy atmosphere. Although the diverse aromas can be overwhelming, they are an essential part of the market’s character.

The public market is composed of ten buildings, each divided into narrow cubicles for lease that line up facing outwards. These areas are designated for non-perishable grocery items such as pans, pots, utensils, canned goods, rice, other grains, and livestock feeds, as well as perishable foods. Other items like brooms, baskets, bags, planks, fabric, and plastic can also be found.

In addition, various shops and establishments are present in the Public Market, offering an extensive range of products like jewelry, watches, freshwater pearls, sunglasses, CDs, and DVDs. Wholesale prices are available for perishable items such as chicken, fish, shellfish, pork, beef, spices, vegetables, and flowers.

Furthermore, the produce market is a separate building dedicated to selling local fruits like mangoes, bananas, papaya, guava, pineapple, jackfruit, watermelon, and other seasonal items sold by the kilogram, making them highly discounted due to the changing market.