APALIT -- “No to the relocation of public market.”
This was the strong statement of Vice Mayor Augusto Manlapaz as he expressed his strong opposition to the proposed relocation of the public market in this town.
Manlapaz, who openly expressed objection to the proposal during the recent public hearing, said that the transfer of the public market will mean “setting the business of small vendors away from the commercial area.”
The proposed relocation of the public market recently filed by Committee on Market and Slaughterhouse Chairman Councilor Edmon “Tuks” Simon aims to move the decades-old public market some 500 meters away from its current location in the town’s intersection along MacArthur Highway.
The move, according to Simon, is expected to address concerns raised by consumers, motorists, residents and even stall owners in the public market. This includes poor sanitation and waste management, peace and order and traffic gridlocks.
However, Manlapaz said that the relocation is expected to affect the lives of thousands of stall owners and vendors whose livelihood are dependent on the public market.
He explained that the current public market is already surrounded by different supermarkets, malls and other commercial buildings and its movement might only cause poor sales or worse, bankruptcy, to the businesses of around 451 stall owners and their vendors.
“Marami ng mga supermarket at mall dito at simula nung pumasok sila, aminado ang mga taga-palengke na talagang humina ang kanilang benta. At ngayon aalisin pa sila, malayo na rin ito at parating binabaha. E di hindi na papasok ang mga tao dun, kawawa naman ang mga nagtitinda,” he said.
As head of the town’s legislative body, Manlapaz vowed to fight for the rights of the stall owners, vendors and consumers who will be directly affected should the proposal push through.
He disclosed that he is now gathering as many signatures he can get from those who similarly oppose the relocation of the public market to present to the Provincial Board as proof that it is not favored by the majority.
During the public hearing, five of the SB members publicly expressed their approval to the project, while one opposed and the two said they are still undecided.
And if majority of the legislators will pass the proposal, Manlapaz said he will join the market vendors and stall owners in the rally they are preparing as show of resistance.
“At kung umabot po tayo sa rally, asahan ng mga kasama natin nagtitinda at mga stall owners na nasa likod nila ako. Hanggang sa dulo ilalaban namin ito dahil alam ko na ito ang gusto ng tao,” he said.
