CEBU, Philippines - Talisay City information officer Vincie Monterde made it clear yesterday that the Tabunok public market will not be demolished any time soon and that Mayor Johnny De los Reyes is scheduled to issue an executive order that will allow vendors to go back to the market.
Vendors trooped to city hall early this week in an attempt to dissuade city hall from demolishing the old market.
The vendors, waving a copy of a resolution sponsored by Councilor Valeriano Q. Ylanan which orders the City Engineering Office to demolish the old public market, said they should be transferred first before the market is demolished.
“Naa nay resolution for that but you can’t immediately demolish the building without prior consultation,” Monterde said.
Monterde said their greatest fear is that once the old market building is gone, their hopes would also follow.
“The demolition would only make way for a new market building,” he said.
Monterde said the construction of the new building may start anytime this year, with the funds coming from the national government.
The city council earlier approved a proposed resolution authored by Councilor Socrates Fernandez asking President Aquino III and senators to allocate funds for the construction of the market.
Monterde told The Freeman yesterday that aside from the EO, the city will also draft a memorandum of agreement with the vendors.
Monterde said a MOA in place would prevent conflict with the vendors.
Earlier, vendors were angry with Vice Mayor Romeo Villarante, councilors Danny Caballero, Val Ylanan and Aldin Diaz for sponsoring a resolution urging the city engineering office to demolish the old market building.
The vendor calmed down after the councilors put in plain words the gist of the resolution. (FREEMAN)
Market in Tabunok won