New Tabunok market to push through

CEBU, Philippines - The long-shelved proposed construction of the controversial Tabunok public market will "definitely push through" before the term of Talisay City Mayor Johnny De los Reyes ends.

"Ang atong merkado diha sa Tabunok mahinayon na gyud na og tukod ug pipila ka mga adlaw, ato gyud mapanghambog atong merkado," De los Reyes said as he requested the City Council's support for the plan during his first State of the City Address Tuesday afternoon that lasted for one-hour and seven minutes.

Vice mayor and council presiding officer Romeo Villarante, in an interview with The Freeman, said the council will support the construction of the market since it will benefit the vendors and the people.

But Villarante pointed out he cannot guarantee if the members of the council will support the proposal of De los Reyes to loan P387 million intended to finance the construction of the Tabunok market.

"Right from the very beginning, mahinayon man gyud ang merkado pero dili ingon niana nga kantidad," Villarante said.

It can be recalled that De los Reyes and members of the City Council clashed over giving authority to the mayor to enter into a proposed P387 million worth of  loan.

In the initial findings conducted by the committee as a whole, Villarante said the proposal must be lower than the amount being asked by the mayor and the design of the market done through contest.

"Atong ipa-contest ang design sa merkado and by that, whoever will win, ato ma-distinguish kung pila gyud ang actual cost sa construction," Villarante said.

The market, he added, should be economical and environment-friendly, and traffic situation must be considered.

It was in August 2011 when, despite protests from vendors, the city government, through the leadership of then mayor Socrates Fernandez, closed the decades-old Tabunok market as according to them, it was no longer fit for occupancy.

More than 900 vendors were moved to the Lagtang Public Market, a structure that features  higher columns, bigger and airy stalls and better drainage, and which cost the city more than P100 million to build. (FREEMAN)