AN OFFICIAL from the City Economic Enterprise (CEE) said they would have to weigh in on amendments to the provision imposing market sectioning at the Agdao Public Market.
The statement came in the wake of the complaints of reduced income by vendors as well as their demand for clearer partitions of the market.
Ligaya Uba, president of the Agdao Public Market Dry Goods and Variety Section, earlier said more vendors would likely give up their stalls due to profit loss if the variety section is not transferred to the first floor.
Meanwhile, CEE head Maximo Macalipes told reporters in an interview after iSpeak Media Forum on Thursday, May 23m that the amendments of the specific provision of the Revenue Code will affect not only Agdao but all the other public markets in the city.
“Ang Revenue Code para sa market, dili lang siya specific sa Agdao, naa pud tay other markets, murag selective pud atong action kung Agdao rapud atong gina-consider,” Macalipes said.
He added they will assess their next action since public market operations remain the top income contributors to the city’s revenue.
Macalipes said they have yet to discuss the issue with the market committee to find solutions.
“Dapat holistic atong approach, dili lang para sa Agdao,” he added.
Markets under CEE supervision include Agdao, Bankerohan, Calinan, Tugbok or Mintal, Toril, Tibungco, Bunawan, and Lasang.
Macalipes reported on Thursday, the market operations contributed P45,322,295.79 as of April 2024, a 4.65% increase from last year’s P43,309,561.67.
On the increased rental rates of the market stalls, which were also raised by the vendors, Macalipes said they are only conforming to Code.
On the matter of promotional programs, CEE talks of filling up commercial spaces, miscellaneous sections such as pharmacy and food stalls, and function halls to be competitive with the malls in the immediate vicinity.
He added there were business owners who expressed intent but they need to finalize the rates for the spaces before proceeding with the raffling of slots.
