88 new stalls of Ormoc public market to accommodate displaced vendors

Amidst the drive to decongest traffic, Ormoc City Mayor Edward C. Codilla made use of the 88 new stalls of Building 3 at Ormoc public market that were blessed and inaugurated last Sunday in order to accommodate the displaced sidewalk vendors. Mayor Codilla, who was in Manila during the inauguration, was represented by his brother Edwin C. Codilla, chairman of Clean and Green committee. Codilla once again reminded the potential stall owners to stay disciplined in maintaining cleanliness of these stalls and hoped that the move made by the mayor would truly contribute in answering the traffic congestion.

Gabriel Raymundo, the market supervisor together with the market Technical Working Group will soon conduct a raffle draw in choosing the tenants with their assigned cubicle. There are an expected hundred applicants especially those who are selling assorted items outside the Gaisano main, the fruit vendors and those occupying the sidewalks in the market. They will be subjected to a committee screening except those trading pirated DVDs and CDs. It is seen to charge 20 pesos per day for each stall, said Raymundo.

It was learned that as much as City Administrator, Atty. Irene Resurreccion, wished to accommodate the vendors selling pirated DVDs considering they are also legitimate businessmen, she decided to exclude them in the priority list for they are vending illegal items. The move made by the city mayor of removing the obstructions at the sidewalks answers the long-lasting problem of the city in relation to traffic clogging that was observed partly contributed by scattered vendors along the pathways.

The construction works of the 4-square meter stalls at the public market were finished months ago but they remained desolated after the prospective occupants declined to take advantage of the chance to transfer offered by then Mayor Eric C. Codilla. Vincent Rama, the Economic Enterprise committee chair, acknowledged ex-mayor Codilla’s initiative in eliminating sidewalk obstructions by relocating them to the new stalls. He said the new set of city councilors only continues the previous administration’s plans for the sake of progress.