24 Oct City Government’s Planned Market Rehabilitation Project in Cogon Market to Displace Vendors by 2017
Image Source | walkandeat
Earlier, the City Council of Cagayan de Oro has approved a budget of P17-million for the total renovation of Cogon public market with the city government’s planned market rehabilitation project set to commence next year, 2017. This said rehabilitation work includes repair of the drainage system and re-sectioning of stalls of the three-story market competing with the big malls in the city.
However, with the said project, around 3,000 market vendors may be displaced. One of the concerned vendors, Nora Lee who is a fruit vendor, said that after learning about the renovation plan in a public hearing carried out by officials, they were alarmed.
“Basin unya wala nami kabaligyaan ani kung madayon ang renovation. Pero gisuportahan man gihapon namo, pero dapat isiguro lang gyud nila among kabalhinan kay mao ra baya ni among pangita, mao lang ni ang gisaligan sa among pamilya,” said Lee in an interview by Sun.Star.
Meanwhile, City Councilor Ian Mark Nacaya who is the chair of the committee on economic enterprise said that all the plans are currently being finalized assuring that no vendor will be displaced when the renovation starts. Instead, there will be a temporary place intended for the vendors where stalls will be built which will then allow them to resume their livelihood.
“We have issued a direction to the City Economic Enterprises Department (CEED) staff that in planning, rehabilitation of drainage system in Cogon market, design of re-sectioning and arranging the stall holders after the completion of the projects, licensed stall owners will be accommodated in the distribution of stalls inside the market,” said Nacaya. “We are also conducting a series of public hearings for the stall owners because we are trying to change their culture nga gapasagad lang, the vendors should also change themselves for us to achieve the renovation we want for Cogon market.”
According to officer-in-charge of Cogon market Rodulfo Yana, they are now waiting for the City Engineer’s Office’s rehabilitation design. And with the 3,480 registered vendors of Cogon market, Yana assured that they won’t be affected with the new renovation and will be given spaces for their businesses.
Source: Sun.Star
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