Multi-million planned rehab of Tigbauan market stirs vendors, town execs
A multi-million planned rehabilitation of the public market in Tigbauan, Iloilo stirred anew local officials and the project's stakeholders, the town vendors and business community here.
With a huge billboard displayed prominently by the market's entrance, residents were presented with a three-storey building described by a top executive here as "the mayor's vision."
The plan met opposition though and remains deferred in the Committee on Infrastructure and General Services and the Committee on Market and Slaughterhouse. Objection as presented by majority of the town councilors focused on the viability, feasibility and regularity of the planned project.
As such, a request sent by Mayor Myrna Torres for authority to negotiate a loan in a government bank snagged despite the "Urgent" plea as pushed to the legislative body.
Among the concerns aired by the oppositors were stipulations in the planned 'make-over' of the public market. Current stall holders for instance are not guaranteed their spaces unless they put up and pay up the proposed "goodwill money" of P100,000 on top of the two months advance rent.
And what about the town's Market Revenue Code? The News Today (TNT) obtained a document revealing the discussions in last week's regular session that validated in-house concerns of such amidst the need to effect change in what was then tagged as "dormant code."
In an interview, Committee Chair Alfonsito Estoce moved to allay fears of the residents and the local businessmen saying "if the mayor realizes this is not feasible, then the project will not push through."
What it is now, he continued, are mere plans given the lady mayor's longtime dream of building a better public market.
Sentiments shared by Edwin Pirote, officer in charge in the Office of the Municipal Treasurer. Almost a year in said post, Pirote defended the multi-million project saying as the mayor's "fiscal adviser," he sees such as an economic booster that will attract more investors.
A meeting Wednesday afternoon with the current market vendors was met with non-stop queries.
Most vocal of his concerns was businessman Dennis Valencia. Reached by reporters, Valencia said his group is not against any improvement of the public market. What bothers them, he explained, are the confusing signals and reports relative to the project particularly the hyped-up plan as pictured in the huge billboard.
Then came the talks, Valencia added, of the "goodwill money" and ultimately, the source of funds which was the multi-million loan.
"We pay our taxes religiously. We do our part by being good citizens if only to help Tigbauan but when you are faced with unresolved questions in the dealings of the municipal government, we feel most aggrieved," he said.