Talisay delays plan to open public market

CEBU, Philippines - The Talisay City Hall has once again shelved the plan to open the public market-cum-terminal in barangay Lagtang.

This after the construction of the circumferential road, which is seen to give better access to the facility to the buying public, has not yet started.

The city hall earlier said the road, which will run from the foot of Mananga Bridge through the new public market in Lagtang, would start construction this quarter, but public information officer Arturo Bas said it is now unlikely considering that it is already February, and the project has not yet been started.

The reason why the city hall has agreed to make this circumferential road to make the new facility accessible to the market-goers, especially that Lagtang, although just adjacent to Tabunok, is still another tricycle ride away.

And being quite inaccessible is one of the reasons why the stallholders of the Tabunok Public Market would rather remain in the old facility no matter how dilapidated it is.

Bas said it may take a while to implement the project as the city at the moment still lacks funds for the project, plus, it still has to acquire the rights of the project in which the road shall traverse.

However, Bas said since the new public market is already ready for occupancy, they may still transfer some of the vendors from the old market.

This new facility has started construction in 2004, and until now is not yet completed, which had prompted first district Rep Eduardo Gullas to challenge the local officials to finish it and make use of the multi-million project which was started during his term as mayor in 2004. (FREEMAN)