Petition: New market is another object of corruption

By Dominique Gabriel G. Bañaga

Around 100 Hinigaran public market vendors are calling on the Office of the President to intervene with plans by the local municipal government to construct a new public market.

A copy of a petition addressed to the Office of the President, through Assistant Secretary Jaime Llaguno Mabilin and received by the Presidential Complaint Center, was furnished to local media outlets, which said Hinigaran Mayor Nadie Arceo’s intentions to build a new market are “creating anxiety and worry” among vendors.

It also claimed he would “influence and manipulate” the Sangguniang Bayan to procure the needed funding, which would be borrowed as a loan. The petition said the project was “not an urgent necessity” and “prejudicial to many of us.”

They believe demolition of the old market will cause vendors to be displaced, which they said is their own source of income.

The petition also claimed similar appeals were made to both the mayor and town council but no responses were received.

“This is worrying us,” they stated.

The petitioners are hoping President Rodrigo Duterte will dissuade Arceo from pursuing the project, claiming it “only be another object of corruption.”

Among those to sign the petition included Hinigaran Lease Rights and Stall Holders Association Inc. President Noli Fernandez, Hinigaran Wholesalers and Retail Market Vendors Association Inc. President Marzolyn Silverio, Fish Vendors Association of Hinigaran President Percival Aduana, among others.

Earlier, Arceo said a new public market was part of his vision to make Hinigaran “the center of development in south-central part of the province.” He also noted, the Cebu City-based Metro Gaisano Group would serve as a private partner for the venture./DGB, WDJ