JVR No Plans to Move Vendors to Tabunok

Contrary to his battle cry when he was still campaigning, Talisay City Mayor Johnny V. delos Reyes has no plans to transfer the vendors to the Tabunok Public Market.

“Bati pa kaayo ang merkado, mauwaw ta,” he said during his first executive agenda he delivered  before the City Council recently.

The neophyte mayor said instead of repairing the old public market, he will construct a four-story building in Tabunok to house the vendors. Asked when he plans to have the structure ready, he said he will have to wait for the contractor. But de los Reyes said private firms have offered to build the new market building and he only has to say yes to keep the project going.

While the new market is still being planned, Delos Reyes said the vendors have to remain in Lagtang Public Market for the time being.

Last elections, Delos Reyes of the Liberal Party and his running mate Romeo Villarante, now the new vice mayor, used the vendors’ transfer to Lagtang as a battle cry of their campaign.

According to them, the past administration of Mayor Socrates Fernandez and then first district Rep. Eduardo Gullas (who was responsible for the construction of Lagtang Public Market), were anti-poor for closing the market in Tabunok in 2011. Allegedly hundreds of vendors were displaced from the transfer.

When they were proclaimed mayor and vice mayor, Delos Reyes and Villarante told supporters they would open Tabunok Public Market on their first days of office.