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Saturday, April 09, 2005
Market arrearages reach P16M
By Roberto L. Bacasong
CITY Administrator Lorendo Dilag said the arrearages of the three public markets to the City Government have reached P16 million.
He said the city still has P2 million collectible from the Manokan Country at Bacolod Reclamation Area; P6 million from Libertad Market; and P5 to P7 million from the Central Market.
"There is mismanagement in our three local markets. If there is mismanagement, the market arrearages could not have reached P16 million," noted Dilag.
He added they are updating the markets' obligation to the city.
Dilag said the stall vendors incurred delayed payments because they peddle outside the markets.
"The problem of the markets had been existing for the past 20 years; the same was carried over by the present administration," clarified Dilag.
He said the administration of Mayor Evelio Leonardia would strictly impose the sectioning of the market stall owners.
"We can make the vendors outside come in, if we can improve the market inside," stressed Dilag.
He also said the Bacolod City Police Office through Senior Superintendent Vicente Ponteras, police director, was tapped to deploy to the city's markets especially during nighttime.
"We will not allow vendors to sleep at their respective stalls. This is to pre-empt any fire incident in our local markets," said Dilag.
Aside from tapping the BCPO, the city administrator also sought the assistance of the Bureau of Fire Protection to conduct regular flashing on the three markets.
On Missing Fund
On the other hand, Dilag clarified that the source of information on the P1.2 million alleged missing trust fund came from him.
"I initiated the report; I don't want to be defensive on the issue," he said.
Dilag coordinated with Eduardo Ravena, officer-in-charge of the City Accounting Office, to retrieve some records about the trust fund.
City Legal Officer Allan Zamora will handle the investigation, he said.
Dilag further said only P9,000 was left of the trust fund because some of it was used by the previous administration in the improvement and maintenance of the markets.
Dilag, however, said he would verify first if the fund was really spent for the market improvement and was not diverted for the salaries of casual employees.
(April 9, 2005 issue)
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