Market authority holds office at SRP

CEBU, Philippines — The Cebu City Market Authority (CCMA) is temporarily holding office at Senior Citizen’s office at South Road Properties while waiting for the assessment of the structural integrity of the burnt office in Carbon.

City Councilor Alvin Arcilla, deputy mayor for markets, said city’s DEPW and OBO will render within the week a report whether or not the foundation of the building in Barangay Ermita is still sturdy.

“Ipa-assess pa ang building kon ang interior ug structure, pwede pa ba. Lig-on pa ba ug wa ba maapektohi sa init. Ang OBO ug DEPW silay mo-assess ana kon pwede ipagamit ang nabilin nga structure or i-demolish gyud,” he said.

Last week, fire razed the offices of market authority and the warehouse of Prevention, Restoration, Order, Beautification, and Enhancement (PROBE) team situated at Unit 3 of the Carbon Public Market.

PROBE Head Raquel Arce said the operations of the team have not been affected since the main office is at T. Padilla market.

At present, Arcilla said the market authority has suspended the renewal of lease permits at the Carbon Public Market.

He said the CCMA will soon announce the resumption of the renewal of lease permits as market personnel have yet to sort out the retrieved documents from the fire scene.

Moreover, Arcilla said he is also waiting for the investigation report from the Bureau of Fire and Protection as to the cause of the fire.

Initial findings point to a “broken wire” that caused the fire. (FREEMAN)