Market make-over

We welcome the announcement that the Tanauan City (Batangas) public market is due for a much-needed make-over. In our childhood, our lola would ride in a kariton (carabao-drawn cart) as she would set out to the palengke (wet market) to do her regular chore of buying food stuff for her big family. She would come home loaded with lots of fish, meat, chicken, vegetables, fruits and sweets, including our favorite matamis na mani (peanuts candied with raw sugar). Those were the days when going to market was fun, an adventure even to the young ones, who were allowed to tag along once in a while.

Times changed and so did the wet markets. From the lowly talipapa (little informal markets with small groups of vendors), the markets grew and expanded their merchandise. But some of them have remained muddy, dirty, very wet and disorganized. The Tanauan market was no exception. Through hard times that included fires and floods, the market survived, but in a state leaving much to be desired.

The recent occasions when we visited this market were marked by a feeling of nostalgia, reminding us of its so-called glory days. It would be wet and muddy. It would be very difficult to move around – vehicle traffic would always be clogging the streets, vendors not organized. Sad too, is the fact that its famous fish species, the tawilis and atun (tuna), are rarely found.

There is now a P40-million fund earmarked for its make over, through a budget approved recently by the National Economic and Development Authority-Investment Coordination Committee (NEDA-ICC), the formal notice of which has been received by the city government. It has also been announced that work on the project will start this month.

Now we wish fervently that the same budget accommodation will be extended to other wet markets in other towns and cities which are in a very sad state. To cite two of them, there are the Biñan City (Laguna) and Muntinlupa public markets, both of which are badly in need of make-overs.

We always feel frustrated when we go to Biñan to buy its famous Tony’s pospas (arroz caldo) because of the stall’s unpleasant location. Needless to say the decrepit condition of these markets are driving residents to cleaner, better ventilated supermarkets, making them lose revenue.

The Sta. Rosa (Laguna) market is one that has long been made-over. It is clean, the cemented floor is dry, and there is ample parking. It has a row of cooked food stalls where, easily, people can bring home food for their lunch. Orders can even be made for simple entertaining at home.

Have a blessed Sunday!

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