Replacement of corroded fish market roofing assured

CEBU, Philippines - Mayor Tomas Osmeña has promised to attend to the request of fish vendors in Pasil Fish Market to replace the building’s rotten roofing.

When The FREEMAN visited Pasil Fish Market recently, some fish vendors complained about the rotten roofing of the building, saying “Kon mag-uwan gani, mangabasa ra tawon gihapon mi diri, mora lang og walay atop kay daghan kaayong buslot.”

The vendors said that these market roofing has been in poor condition in the past few years, but that the need has allegedly not properly attended to by the market authorities.

The FREEMAN failed to get in touch with Councilor Christopher Alix, chairman of the committee on market and abattoir, to ask on why he did not attend to such problem of the vendors.

When the concern was brought up to the attention of the mayor, the latter assured to attend to the matter but that there is no assurance given that the renovation of the roofing will be completed before the elections.

Pasil Fish Market is the biggest marketplace for seafood in the Visayas where people buy fresh marine products at cheaper prices.

It is the primary drop-off point for fish catch within Cebu and other places in the Visayas and Mindanao.

Pasil Fish Market is usually a very busy place from past midnight until morning where lots of people will come to buy their stocks, particularly the small vendors.

Aside from the problem on rotten roofing, the vendors also complained about the clogged-up drainage systems within the market.

“Maayo unta og maatiman dayon ni sa mayor kay miingon man siya nga ang problema sa City Hall karon kon unsay gastohan sa kwarta sa syudad,” one of the vendors said. – Rene U. Borromeo/MEEV   (FREEMAN NEWS)