CEBU, Philippines — Around 500 Talisay City market vendors have transferred to the new Tabunok Public Market last Monday.
Market Administrator Winnie Bas said that fish, meat, fruits and vegetable vendors were already given their place at the new building.
Fish section has 180 stalls, meat section has 98 while there are 224 stalls for fruits and vegetables vendors.
Talisay Public Market has almost 1,000 vendors and those who were given stalls in the new market went through a selection process.
The market committee gives priority to vendors who have good standing or those who have no records of delinquency.
Bas said not all vendors have transferred yet.
They also still need to check which area in the market that they can develop so that they can accommodate the vendors who do not have stalls yet.
But even if the transfer is still partial, some vendors have complained after learning that a fast food chain will be accommodated in the market because the franchisee is Eduardo "Didi" Gullas II, the son of Mayor Eduardo Gullas.
The mayor confirmed that there will be Jollibee branch in the market but he does not know that the franchise owner is his son.
“Wala ko kahibaw og si Didi ba ang tag-iya pero kahibalo ko nga dunay magbutang, dunay naghangyo nga Jollibee,” he said.
Gullas said he will wait for the report from the market committee about the matter.
Those who complained said that they are worried that some vendors might not be given a place in the new market so that the fast food chain can be accommodated.
Daya Cañedo, 51, a fish vendor for 20 years now, said she is satisfied with the stall that was given to her.
"Kontento ra ko sa kung asa ko nila gibutang. Nindot man sad ang porma sa merkado kay matuyok tanan," she said.
Vegetable vendor Lilia Cabrera, 58, said the new public market is spacious.
"Ganahan ra ko sa akong pwesto. Hamugaway siya unya dili alimoot kay taas kaayo ang ceiling," she said. — MBG (FREEMAN)