CEBU, Philippines – Over a hundred vendors at the Lapu-Lapu City public market building in barangay Poblacion occupying the wet section in the second floor and the eateries and stalls for vegetables below them in the ground floor will vacate temporarily effective next week for the reason that the structure is at risk of collapsing.
They will be accommodated at the unfinished public market building beside the Muelle Osmeña wharf until repairs, which would cost the city P3 million, are made.
Mayor Paz Radaza said the recommendation of the city engineer's office after it concluded that the old structure has become weak was for those in the second floor, but vendors below and some along the roadside offered to leave and to stay in the temporary relocation site.
They said market goers just the same would refrain from going to the market people while the renovation is on going.
"Ilang kahadlokan ang kompetisyon kay basin og adto ang mga tawo mamalit sa atong relocation site," Radaza said.
The second floor of the old building had undergone renovation during the time of the late Mayor Ernest Weigel, Jr. after a portion of its floor collapsed injuring a laborer.
When Arturo Radaza became mayor in 2001 he was amenable to the study made by the Japanese International Cooperation Agency (Jica), which suggested that a new public market be constructed near the shore of barangay Poblacion, and offered to finance it.
Radaza began constructing the building using city's funds, but abandoned it realizing it was disadvantageous to the environment.
Paz Radaza said she had talked with the vendors and everybody agreed to vacate and return later when the renovation is done.
She said she is not also inclined to complete the construction of the unfinished market building citing the traffic congestion it will cause if people packed to the area with no alternative route available for private and passenger vehicles.
She said when the renovation of the old building is done she plans to use the unfinished structure as a barter trade center with the Muslims in the city as priority occupants.
"Dili man gud enough ang space. Mo-create gyod siya og traffic kun anha ang atoang public market," she said. (THE FREEMAN)