Freedom Park vendors cry foul over excessive penalties

CEBU, Philippines - The vendors at the Freedom Park public market along Magallanes St. are complaining about the alleged unfair treatment from the market authority that allegedly fines them P2,500 for failure to secure business permit while other vendors are only fined P500.

Speaking on behalf of the vendors, retired police officer Rodulfo Vaño wrote councilor Edgardo Labella asking for an explanation about the so-called unfair treatment to them by the personnel of the City Treasurer’s Office.

Vaño also complained that the personnel of the city treasurer’s office increased his annual tax assessment from P1,225 in 2009 to P1,531 this year.

“Gibuhat ba kini sa taga City Hall kay aduna sila’y nagpahipi nga plano? Nakapangutana kami niini kay ingon sa tinuyo na man god kini aron mapugos kami pagbakante sa among mga stalls,” Vaño said in a letter.

Vaño’s complaint was referred to the committee on markets of the Cebu City Council for further action.

Vaño had threatened that if the so-called unfair treatment will continue some of their relatives might be compelled to join their cause.

Councilor Arsenio Pacaña, vice chairman of the Committee on Markets, submitted a report to the City Council about the complaint of the Freedom Park vendors.

According to Pacaña, the non-uniformity of the penalty for market vendors without business permits is because the P2,500 fine will be imposed only on vendors with annual gross sales of more than P300,000 while the P500 is for those vendors with gross sales less than P300,000.

Pacaña also explained that Vaño’s tax assessment was increased to P1,531.25 for 2010 because his daily sales had also went up to P839 compared to only P671.23 daily last year.

“The city treasurer’s office finds the 25 percent tax assessment reasonable and the vendors can very well afford to pay on it,” Pacaña added.

About Vaño’s complaint that the market authorities had demolished some stalls at the Freedom Park, the market officials explained to Pacaña that the concerned vendors did not comply with the agreement that their stalls shall not be converted into living quarters.

Meanwhile, Vice Mayor Michael Rama who is running for mayor under the Bando Osmeña Pundok-Kauswagan (BOPK), said if he will be elected he is planning to ensure that the middle part of Freedom Park remains vacant.

“Kaniadto ang Freedom Park nahinumdom pa ko nga anha diha magdebate ang mga tigsangyaw sa lainlaing relihiyon, karon hain na man  ang hawan. Kinahanglan nga ibalik nato ang tinuod nga Freedom Park,” Rama said.   (FREEMAN NEWS)