Taboan market's illegal structures demolished

CEBU, Philippines - Market authorities in Cebu City backed up by heavily-armed policemen and members of the Special Weapon and Tactics team yesterday started destroying illegal structures at the Taboan Public Market.

Market administrator Raquel Arce, who supervised the implementation of the order of Mayor Michael Rama to clear the public market of illegal structures, said the operation will continue today until the illegal structures will be completely removed.

“Wala na ni atrasay, limpyohon nato ang merkado kay daghan na kaayo ang nagreklamo nga hugaw na kini kaayo,” said Arce when she ordered to demolish the concrete walls of a toilet that was constructed at a passageway.

Lucino Calvo, in-charge of the Taboan market, said 58 families are living illegally in the various market stalls aside from the 28 other families and individuals who are living in the passageways of the market.

It was observed that some of these families have their own appliances such as television sets and just tap power from the market or directly from the electric posts.

Edgardo Briones Sr., one of the stallholders who constructed a concrete toilet and bathroom in the passageway, said “pagsugod unta namo og buhat ila na unta mi nga gibadlong kay illegal man kaha.”

City Ordinance 1486 prohibits anybody from converting their stalls into living quarters.

But Briones explained that they were forced to live in their stalls to discourage thieves because anybody can just go inside the market.

Briones asked the market authorities to suspend the clearing operation against their stalls.

“Wala g’yud ta’y mahimo og gobyerno ang atong kontra,” he said.

The obligation of the market authorities is only to provide lights in passageways, meaning that the stallholders shall be the ones to secure their own electrical connections.

But The FREEMAN learned that only a few of the stallholders have legitimate electrical connections.

It was also observed that the market authorities allowed rice dealers to use the passageways in front of their stalls as their display center while they only used their stalls as a stockroom.

Meanwhile, until yesterday, the pigpens installed at the corner of Lakandula and B. Aranas streets were still there despite complaints from marketgoers that it contributed to the foul odor in the area.

Rama had already promised to look into the report that some personnel of the city’s SPEED are receiving bribes from these pig dealers in exchange for not going after their questionable activities.  (THE FREEMAN)