TRO has no bearing on transfer of Talisay vendors

CEBU, Philippines - Talisay City administrator Richel Bacaltos yesterday said the temporary restraining order issued by the court has no effect on the scheduled transfer of the vendors from the Tabunok Public Market.

"Whether na-issue ang TRO or not, wa gihapon ni effect kay 20 days ra man, unya June 28 pa man ang transfer to the new market," said Bacaltos in an interview.

Last Friday, Regional Trial Court branch 5 presiding judge Douglas Marigomen issued a TRO to Mayor Socrates Fernandez stopping him from implementing his order to move the Tabunok public market vendors to the new market in barangay Lagtang.

Bacaltos said the transfer will take effect on June 28 yet, this means that the TRO shall have lapsed before the transfer will take effect.

Last month, Fernandez ordered all vendors to transfer to the Lagtang Public Market starting May 28, last Saturday.

But to give time for the vendors to prepare for their new environment, he has also stipulated in his April 27 notice to the vendors that they have 30 days from May 28 to vacate the dilapidated Tabunok Public Market.

Bacaltos however said the move has no city council-approved resolution to rely on, which was the ground for the TRO.

"The councilors have however approved the transfer in principle, kay mao may nauyonan sa tanan during our meetings," he said.

But he said, by today, the council is set to adopt a resolution supporting Fernandez's order.

The resolution will then be forwarded to the court as evidence that the transfer of the vendors to the new market has followed the legal procedures.

"Naa man tay mga requirements gipangayo sa korte, like a council resolution. Ato nang i-comply, i-submit sa korte para masulbad na," Bacaltos said.

Meanwhile, Bacaltos denied the contention of vendors that the construction of the Lagtang market has no public hearing.

He insisted that the public hearing for it was conducted last October 24, 2003 during the term of then city mayor Eddie Gullas.