By Dominique Gabriel G. Bañaga

In order to jumpstart rehabilitation, the Local Market Committee proposed the mayor to request a clearance from the Commission on Audit (COA) for the Libertad Public Market Annex Building.
According to Jonah Abao, officer-in-charge of Libertad Public Market, the structure contains about 120 blocks and can accommodate 240 vendors. However, most have not occupied the stalls claiming they are inaccessible to consumers.
Presently the Annex Building, described as a “white elephant,” or a useless property that is expensive to maintain, has fallen into disrepair over the years and is now a hotbed of illicit activities.
The ground floor is allegedly being used as a hangout for drug addicts, mostly identified as “rugby boys.”
The recommendation came following a recent drug raid by members of Police Station 6 (PS6), which resulted in the apprehension of 13 people last Saturday.
Abao said it is up to Bacolod City Mayor Evelio Leonardia if he will act on the recommendation.
He added, if the proposal materializes, it may help raise revenue as the city can accommodate transient vendors from whom they collect rent through the “arkabala system.”
Abao also said most of the awardees have already abandoned their stalls inside the annex and have became delinquents./WDJ