City markets deploy blue guards

CEBU, Philippines - After reports of theft and illegal squatting, the Market Operations Division has decided to deploy blue guards to all city-operated public and satellite markets in Cebu City.

The hiring of security guards shall maximize security in city markets that from time to time are infested by bad elements that threaten the safety of the vendors and consumers.

City Market Administrator Raquel Bohol-Arce said her office has hired 36 security guards who started reporting on duty last August.

The 36 security guards are deployed equally in the Freedom Park, Tabo-an Public Market, Carbon Market Units I and III, Pasil Fish Market and Ramos Supermarket.

Their salary is part of the Market’s P47-million budget this year.

The guards were supposed to start last January yet, but all requirements were completed just last August.

The city appropriated P6 million for their salary for 12 months but since they only started last August, Arce said their supposed salaries for the months of January to July will be declared as surplus.

Arce told the media that blue guards are more authoritative than the market guards they deployed in the past.

The Market office used to deploy civilian guards in the city’s markets.

She said civilian guards, however, are less feared by criminals and by informal settlers who try to live in their stalls inside the markets. The Market Office has long prohibited sleeping inside the market.

Civilian guards are still deployed in satellite markets or barangays markets. –/MIT (FREEMAN)