Capitol aid sought for new market
The administration of Talisay City Mayor Johnny De los Reyes will ask the assistance of Cebu province in the long-shelved proposal to construct the new Tabunok public market.
City administrator John Yre De los Reyes told The FREEMAN that his father will ask the Capitol to help fund the market’s construction whose budget was earlier pegged at P350 million.
The construction of the new market was among the banner proposals of Mayor De los Reyes during his campaign in the 2013 elections.
However, the project’s progress had been stalled after the City Council turned down the mayor’s move to enter into a loan agreement with a bank to finance the construction.
At that time, the council wanted the mayor to present a thorough feasibility study and conduct a public consultation on the project, which the mayor reportedly failed to do.
The council also found the P350 million too hefty for a budget.
"Since the plan to loan for the construction of the market did not push through, the mayor will be asking the Cebu provincial government under the leadership of Governor Hilario Davide III to shoulder the construction of the market," John Yre said.
John Yre said his father remained hopeful that the new market can be built before his term ends in 2016.
The mayor, according to John Yre, will be requesting the council's support for the plan.
It was in August 2011 when, despite protests from vendors, the city government, through the leadership of then mayor Socrates Fernandez, closed the decades-old Tabunok market as according to them, it was no longer fit for occupancy.
More than 900 vendors were moved to the Lagtang public market, a structure that features higher columns, bigger and airy stalls and better drainage.
Lagtang market cost the city more than P100 million to build.