CEBU, Philippines - The Mandaue City council has approved Tuesday on first reading a resolution which seeks a 46-day moratorium on the stall rentals at the Mandaue City public market.
The ordinance was sponsored by city councilor Jimmy Lumapas, committee chairman of the city market and abattoir.
Lumapas said he chose to file the ordinance after seeing market stall vendors totally affected by the closure of the newly opened market at the back of the Mandaue City Sports Complex following the magnitude 7.2 earthquake.
During the earthquake last October 16, a meat vendor died, while 35 others were injured, one in critical condition, when some portions of the market fell on them.
As a result, the market was ordered temporarily closed by Mayor Jonas Cortes.
At present, most market stall owners transact business at an open space outside the condemned old public market in barangay Centro.
To help the vendors recover from losses, Lumapas sponsored a suspension of rentals.
However, the city councilor yesterday said the city will continue to collect rentals until the ordinance is finally approved, with these payments serving as advance payments for the succeeding months. (FREEMAN)