Talisay to push thru with vendors' transfer

CEBU, Philippines -  Despite protests, the Talisay City government will still transfer all vendors to the new public market-cum-terminal in barangay Lagtang.

    Public information officer Arturo Bas said the city will do it on a "gradual basis" but will only be done once the planned circumferential road that leads to the facility is finished.

    This project, which was proposed by Councilor Rodi Cabigas, being chairman on council committee on Infrastructure, will run along the Mananga riverbank down to the new public market.

    The aim is to make the new public market accessible to the buying public.

    Vendors from all sections of the Tabunok Public Market have an on going signature campaign against the impending transfer.

    According to them, once they are transferred to the new market in Lagtang they would lose their customers who they believe would rather stop in Tabunok to shop.

    Tabunok is considered a vantage area not only to residents of Talisay City but also to the neighboring areas such as Cebu City and Minglanilla.

    Due to its strategic location, private stalls have started mushrooming in the area.

    Vendors renting spaces in the public market fear the stalls would capture their customers once they are relocated.

    The public market-cum-terminal in Lagtang is about less than a kilometer away from the old public market.

    There is however no specific date for the transfer, Bas said.

    Meanwhile, thousands of signatures, which include signatures of market goers, have been accumulated by the vendors organization.

This will be used for the petition they will file against their transfer. (THE FREEMAN)