20 vendors in Taboan market face eviction

CEBU, Philippines – At least 20 stall vendors at the Taboan Public Market are scheduled to be forcibly evicted by the market authorities on Monday because of their violation of the policy against living and sleeping in their stalls at night.

Cebu City Mayor Michael Rama has already approved the recommendation of market administrator Raquel Arce to remove these illegal settlers from the Taboan Pub-lic Market. An operation has already been scheduled next week.

The notices to vacate has already been issued to the concerned vendors giving them only until Sunday to stay in that market for violating the provisions of City Ordi-nance 1486, otherwise known as the Cebu City market code.

Arce explained that the existing market code strictly prohibits anybody, including the vendors themselves, from staying in their stalls at night. She said that this policy is also applicable to the eight other satellite markets in the city.

The FREEMAN learned that Arce already coordinated with the police and the Squatters Prevention Encroachment Elimination Division, to support the personnel of the market operations division on Monday.

Arce explained that for the past few months she had conducted meetings with the concerned vendors warning them that they will evicted from their stalls if they con-tinue to stay or let their families live in the public market.

When Arce met with the illegal settlers last August 12 and informed them about the provisions of the market code, the concerned violators just requested her to give them enough time to find a place to transfer.

"Dunay nagsulti nako nga ang maong mga tindera dili gayud mamahawa bisan pa og duna nay order sa mayor," said Arce.

"Ang magmagahi pagtuman niini, dunay tulubagon nga pagaatubangon sa atong gobyierno. Maayo unta og dili ninyo ibaliwala ang kamandoan," she added.

The FREEMAN visited the place yesterday and found that some vendors bring their children to stay with them at the market.

The Taboan public market is one of the oldest markets in Cebu City where you can buy various kinds of dried fish and seafood, particularly the famous "danggit" and "nukos" or squid.

Dried marine products that are sold at the Taboan market are much cheaper compared to those sold in malls and supermarkets. But travelers are advised not to buy there hours before their trip as the smell of dried marine products has been known to cling to customers for hours. (FREEMAN)