Clearing in Citi-Center Starts, Nearby Stores Served with Closure Orders

The Cebu City Hall personnel has started clearing the premises of the former wet market in Barangay Kamagayan in preparation of the planned construction of a housing project for city hall employees in that place.

The City Hall’s Prevention Restoration Order Beautification Enhancement (PROBE) headed by Raquel Arce had served closure orders issued by Mayor Michael Rama to seven establishments occupying the former Citi-Center Commercial Complex building.

Arce said among the seven establishments closed by them on Monday includes four printing press shop, one motor repair shop, and two stores.

She said all seven establishments have not been paying rent to the city government, who owns the property in 2009 after it was forfeited in favor of the city when its former owner failed to pay the required real property taxes.

Arce believed that somebody is collecting the taxes from the concerned businessmen, which is supposedly for the city government.

“Siguro naay nagkolekta nila og rent but wala g’yud na napunta sa city government. The mayor issued the closure order kay gamiton na sa city ang luna diha,” Arce explained.

Mayor Michael Rama proposed a P100 million budget for the construction of a condominium project in that area for the homeless City Hall personnel, but the proposed budget was not approved by the council in 2012 Annual Budget.

At present, the former wet market is just being used as office of PROBE and stockroom of whatever items confiscated from the sidewalks.

At night, those street dwellers that will be rounded up from the sidewalks will be brought there so these persons may not cause eye sores in the sidewalks.