Transfer of Mandaue market vendors urged

CEBU, Philippines – Occupants of the old public market in Mandaue City might be relocated.

The inspection report submitted by Winefreda Dedel of the City Engineer's Office to the office of Mayor Jonas Cortes stated that "big chunks and concrete slabs" have fallen on the parapet of roof beams of the building.

Dedel said the market, once hit by fire, is now in a state of disrepair.

She also said pieces of mortar fall directly on the rooftop of stalls below and on the alleys.

Also, the second floor is littered with garbage and stagnant water which is starting to seep through slabs and penetrating the ceiling of the ground floor where stalls and eateries are located, she said.

Dedel has recommended for the immediate relocation of stall owners.

At yesterday's weekly press conference, Jimmy Vasquez of the Mayor's Management Team said that contributing to the dilapidation of the old public market is the construc-tion of a department store which is near the public market.

An emergency meeting with market officials will be held today in preparation for the immediate relocation of vendors.

It was suggested that the temporary relocation site will either be the vacant space near the old slaughterhouse in barangay Mantuyong as the vacant lot owned by the F.F Cruz Construction at the Reclamation area is being considered. Whether F.F Cruz would consent to it remains to be seen.

OIC market administrator Cesar Marcadal said around 80 to 100 stall owners at the fish, vegetable and grains sections would be the first to be moved, although some of them are opposed to the plan.

Mercadal and Vasquez yesterday said although the new public market, which is located at the back of the Mandaue City Sports and Cultural Center, is almost completely fin-ished, the vendors cannot be relocated there because the construction of an access road and the waste water treatment facility is still going on.

The market building itself has still to go through its curing stage and that the market will be fully operational in November yet. (FREEMAN)