Talisay SP okays transfer of market vendors

CEBU, Philippines - The Talisay City council yesterday morning approved a proposed resolution which sought the closure of the old Tabunok Public Market and the transfer of its operations to the new Talisay City Public Market in barangay Lagtang effective June 28.

The council adopted the resolution after vendors questioned the legality of the transfer on the basis that there was no public hearing conducted and that it had no prior approval by the legislative body.

Regional Trial Court branch 5 presiding judge Douglas Marigomen issued Friday a temporary restraining order which gave each party 10 days to submit their respective documentary evidence before he would resolve the vendors' application for a writ of preliminary injunction.

City administrator Richel Bacaltos explained that among those documentary evidence is the council-approved resolution which he admitted the city lacked.

The approval of the resolution did not go smoothly in the council yesterday.

This after minority councilors Val Ylanan and Romeo Villarante manifested their opposition to the transfer.

Villarante cited the lack of public hearing as one of the reasons he is opposed to the transfer.

Also, he said the new location is violative of the environmental law as the market building is near a river which could risk the lives of the vendors and their customers.

He also said the new facility can not accommodate the more than 900 vendors from the Tabunok Public Market.

Villarante said that since the city hall is giving less priority to the delinquent stallholders, there is "intention to reduce their number."

His reasons were also echoed by Ylanan who said that when he went to interview the vendors at the Tabunok Public Market, none of them wanted to move out of the old facility.

"Giusa-usa na nako ang mga tindera sa isdaan, karnehan, sa utanon. Pero way usa nila nga uyon nga mobalhin ngadto sa Lagtang," Ylanan said.

For his part, Caballero said he opposed not because his siblings and mother are stallholders at the Tabunok Public Market.

He said he agreed with the contention of the vendors, of which among them is the new market's being economically disadvantaged on their part being far from the buying public.

The house was divided due to the opposition of the three minority councilors or the "Big Three," who later on voted against the proposed resolution of Councilor Edward Alesna, chairman on council committee on Laws.

But since they lacked the number, the resolution was approved.

"After a close scrutiny and evaluation of the issues raised by the opposing market vendors and the corresponding answers by the Honorable City Mayor and the executive department of the city of Talisay, the members of this august body are satisfied and convinced that all concerns and apprehensions by the market vendors concerning the closure of the existing Tabunok Public Market cum terminal have been duly and satisfactorily addressed," read a portion of the newly approved resolution. — THE FREEMAN