Palengke ng Bayan, para sa bayan

MALAKING tulong sa pambansang ekonomiya, gayun­din sa maliliit at katamtamang negosyante, mga trabahador, at sa mismong mga mamamayan sa mga komuni­dad ang isinusulong ni Senator Jinggoy Ejercito Estrada na Senate Bill 1545 (Public Markets Infrastructure Development, Micro-Financing Support and Related Skills Training Program Act).

Layon ng panukala na palakasin ang mga pampublikong palengke sa lahat ng panig na bansa bilang isa sa mga pangunahing national economic centers na magpupundar ng kabang-bayan, kasabay ng pagtitiyak ng mga ito ng de-kalidad na mga produkto at serbisyo sa publiko.

Ayon kay Jinggoy, “This bill seeks to establish every public market as the primary foundation of Philippine trade and commerce, through a five-year plan consisting of development modules for infrastructure improvements. micro-financing projects, institutional support programs and other support services for consumer protection.”

Dagdag niya, “Prioritization of initiatives shall begin within each local government unit (LGU) and coordina-ted under the leadership of the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI). The support of government… is encou-raged, and incentives are also given to private persons who provide assistance in the implementation of this measure.”

 Itinatakda ng panukala ang Development Modules for Public Markets sa mga sumusunod na aspeto:

— Infrastructure improvements: Related infrastructure refurbishments, construction of comfort rooms, di­rec­tio­nal signs, drainage systems, waste disposal systems to include garbage bins, regular sanitation treatments and waste disposal maintenance systems;

— Micro-financing support, where Market Vendors Cooperatives shall play a big role;

--Institutional advancement: educational and training programs on entrepreneurship, financial management. networking and such other subjects necessary for the enhancement of the skills of market vendors;

--Consumer protection: regular price monitoring, providing credible weighing scales, creating an awards system for market vendors, and providing a responsive consumer desk where suggestions and complaints may be filed.

Sabi pa ni Jinggoy, “It is hoped that after a period of five years, there will be more public markets that will allow the efficient trading of goods for the benefit of the domestic economy.”