CEBU, Philippines - Vendors have expressed fears that they would lose their customers once they transfer to the new Mandaue City Public Market at the back of the sports complex at the North Reclamation Area but this does not seem to be the case.
Since the transfer last Sunday, consumers themselves started trooping to the new market after the city government allowed public utility vehicles to ferry passengers there. This is aside from the E-cars the Mandaue City Government has provided for those who want to go to the new market.
The old market was located near the Mandaue City Hall.
Market Administrator Mossulini Soliva said the new market is still in a transition period, but most of the vendors who have transferred there have started earning. The vendors continue to spruce up their stalls.
Soliva said the market is 99 percent occupied but there are still about 50 to 100 applicants who want to occupy stalls there. There are 1,400 stalls in the new market.
He said his office is now evaluating who among the applicants could occupy the few stalls left.
“Kon maka-avail pa sila dili na sila pwededng mamili kay sobra na man lang dyud sa pinilian ang nabilin, atong vegetable, chicken and fish stall puno na dyud,” Soliva said .
He also said those delinquent stall holders at the old market were not allowed to occupy stalls at the new market.
Meanwhile, Soliva said they will also check reports that a chicken supplier from the Carbon market in Cebu city was able to acquire a stall at the new Mandaue market and that existing chicken vendors fear that the supplier will monopolize sales there.
“Busa ako silang gi-ingnan to identify this person because, so far, when I came to check, legitimate stall holder man ang pwesto nga naka-assign sa gi-ingon nga stall, Once ma-identify nako ning tawhana, I will be calling his attention to instill good and fair price aron sad di mahagba ang negosyo sa uban. Maayo nga mu-come-up sila og common price ug bahala na lang unya ang mamalitay og asa mopalit,” Soliva said. /JMO