City dad not giving up on night market plan

CEBU, Philippines —The chairman of the committee on markets of the Cebu City Council is not giving up on the proposal to hold a night market in the city despite disapproval of Mayor Edgardo Labella due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Councilor Renato Osmeña Jr. said he is determined to push through with the proposal preparing for the future under the new normal.

“Si Mayor, he said thumbs down sa night market because he’s just concerned about our protocol. Don’t take it negatively on the thumbs down ni Mayor because he’s concerned, for atong mga vendors is always top of the list,” he said.

Labella earlier said he is just protecting the health of the residents of the city.

But Osmeña said Labella’s disapproval is “just a signal that let’s be more careful and not to be very excited on having it right away.”

The committee has not yet formally presented the proposal to Labella.

Osmeña said the mayor just heard it over the media and not yet apprised on it.

“When Mayor Labella hears something concerning the people, he just wants to be, mura mana’g amahan nato, he wants to be on top of everything. As long as we could provide proper protocols and safety for the people, I’m sure he will allow the night market soon,” he said.

The councilor said the plan is for the night market to be materialized next year or mid next year and it is envisioned like Japan, Taiwan, Hong Kong and Bangkok.

“We would like to have that, to give an edge to our vendors, especially our Muslim brothers. I mean, we give them a chance to shine also because galisud ang mga tawo karon tungod sa pandemic and then we want to give them a chance to relive their lives again, following protocols,” said Osmeña.

Osmeña assured proper protocols will be followed once the proposed night market will be approved by the mayor.

“He (Labella) is very concerned but he is also very mindful what will happen. As long as we are here, we will guide him and we will tell him that we will follow proper protocols like we did in Carbon Market,” said Osmeña.

Osmeña visited the Pardo Market yesterday to assess its current situation.

The councilor will then come up with a report to the mayor regarding his assessment on the market. — GMR (FREEMAN)