If council amends market code: Revenue collection to double

CEBU, Philippines - The Office of the City Markets under  the Cebu City government is eyeing on doubling this year’s P60 million target income from the revenues of different public markets and stalls in Cebu City.

 â€œKaya namo ang P60 million nga target bisan pa P120 million (We can reach the P60 million target, even if it’s P120 million),” said Market Administrator Raquel Arce.

Arce said they can generate the target if the Cebu City council will amend City Ordinance 1486 on Market Code, which will consequently increase the leasing fees of all stalls and public markets.

Since January to August 31 this year, the OCM has collected revenues totaling to P53 million from the 2,603 stalls in Cebu City markets that includes the market in Carbon, Pasil, Tabo-an, Pardo, Freedom Park, T.Padilla, Ramos and Warwicks Barracks.

Last year, OCM generated P53 million in revenue collections which topped their P50 million target income.

If the revenue collections will exceed from the original target income, the amount will go directly to the General Fund of the Cebu City government. 

Further, Arce said there have been 1,327 stall tenants who have acquired Certificates of Lease from January to August this year while another 707 have secured Affidavits of Temporary Occupancy at different satellite markets while there are 349 vacant stalls available in Pardo, Ramos and T. Padilla public markets.

Arce explained that the temporary occupants are paying much higher than the legitimate market vendors. The 707 temporary occupants pay five pesos per square meter with additional business tax while the legitimate vendors pay two pesos per square meter only.

In order to become a legitimate vendor, Arce said temporary occupants in Taboan must pay P50,000 to the Cebu City government while those in Carbon would need to pay P40, 000.

Meanwhile, Arce said they are planning to demolish the fruit stands in Ramos that are along the street.

“Ang fruit stand ipasud nato sa Ramos (public market) kay ga-obstruct lang na sa fascade sa Mercado,” Arce explained.  (FREEMAN)