Vendors hesitant to move to new market

CEBU, Philippines – Twenty vendors identified with the Mandaue Public Market Stallholders and Vendors Association met yesterday with Mayor Jonas Cortes to express their fears in connection with their imminent transfer to the new public market located at the back of the Mandaue City Sports Complex and Cultural Center.

Leading the vendors to the mayor's office were the group's president Marino Sasing and vice president Evelyn Bitadio. 

After an exchange of pleasantries, Cortes went with them to the new public market.

At the public market, the vendors recited a litany of complaints.

They told the mayor the stalls are too high for market goers to view the merchandise on sale, they fear being electrocuted because electric wires touch a steel bar, and that they doubt whether they would see any market goer at all considering that satellite markets are in barangays Maguikay, Cabancalan, Wireless in barangay Subangdaku, Basak, barangay Paknaan, and near the Super Metro Gaisano in barangay Ibabao.

The vendors said they wouldn't move to the new market unless they and the city sign a memorandum of agreement which would state that they could go back to the old market if the new market turns out to be a losing proposition.

Cortes said the new market was constructed by the previous administration and the construction was continued under his administration.

However, the mayor said that once the public market is turned over by the contractor to the city, the defects would be corrected.

He said vehicular traffic flow would be increased in the area once the market is operational and the market accessible through a re-routing scheme.

The new pubic market is already 99% percent finished and the city is just waiting for the waste water treatment facility and a steel bridge to be completely finished before market vendors can transfer. (FREEMAN)