JVR Gives Vendors 2 Choices

Frustrated that his brainchild project has not been implemented after a year since he assumed office, Talisay City Mayor Johnny V. de los Reyes yesterday gave the vendors two options: allow the construction of the new Tabunok Public Market or hold on to the old one and suffer its stink.

“Og di silag gusto og market, anaha lang sila, mag-agwanta sila sa hugaw, magpaabot sila nga di na moanha ang mga tawo kay hugaw kaayo,” said de los Reyes.

De los Reyes, however, said that so far, since the city had started the series of public consultation, there were several vendors at the said market who have showed support to his project.

The mayor said while the public hearings are being conducted, the city, on the other hand, is busy preparing all the pre-requisites to the project, like the feasibility studies and others, so that when the public would give its nod to the new market, it would then be faster for them to forward all the needed documents to the concerned agencies. But if the public would say no to the new market, de los Reyes, a first-term mayor, said they could easily shelve the plan. The city will loan P350 million for this three-story market building.

Yesterday, about 30 vendors marched on foot from the Tabunok Public Market to the City Hall bearing placards that read they opposed to the construction of the new building, saying they do not want to be relocated again. The market has over 1,000 vendors.

De los Reyes, however, assured the vendors that the construction would only take “eight to nine months” and not three years as reportedly fed by people behind these protesting vendors.

“Ang mga tawo gi-brainwash na sila kay kuno ibalik sa Lagtang (Public Market) unya mahuman ang bag-ong merkado og three yars. Kining mga langyaw, mga dili taga Talisay, mao ni’ng naghilo sa mga tawo,” the mayor said. De los Reyes believed there was politics behind the opposition of the new market.

He said once the construction of the new market pushes through, the vendors must leave the old and dilapidated building, but they can opt to stay nearby (along the street), at the Nacario Trade Center, at the Lagtang Public Market or at the back of Tabunok church. He assured that once they have found a temporary display area for their goods, the city will provide them will all the necessities like water, light and shelter.

But de los Reyes said they will start the project early next year to allow the vendors to earn during the holidays.

The mayor reminded the vendors that the new market will not only boost the income of the vendors, as it would attract customers not only from the city but also from outside it.