Saturday, August 30, 2008 Vendors start signature campaign v. privatization
VENDORS in the three public markets of Bacolod City are conducting a signature campaign to gather support against the City Government's plan to privatize the facilities.
Efren "Bon" Mangalus, president of the Katilingban sang Bacolodnon nga taga Mercado (KBM) covering the Libertad, Burgos, and Central markets, said they hope to end the signature campaign on Saturday and submit this attached to KBM's position paper to the City Council.
He added that an initial position paper with more than 1,000 signatories was already submitted to the council earlier.
The move was in reaction to a resolution of the City Council "requesting Mayor Evelio Leonardia...to create a special committee or a study group" at the soonest time possible in preparation for possible privatisation.
The move covers all facilities at the three main public markets, including the so-called Manokan country, non-operational vendors' plaza and jeepney terminal at the reclamation area, non-functioning annex building of the Libertad south public market, and the food and jeepney terminal in Barangay Alijis.
The resolution noted that the facilities are not revenue generating.
"In fact, records from the City Treasurer's Office showed an amount receivables of no less than P30 million in terms of unpaid rentals, surcharges, interest, and penalties" representing the unpaid obligations of vendors to the City Government, it added.
Another resolution placed "emphasis and focus on the vendors plaza and jeepney terminal at Alijis (as well as the) annex building along Amelia Street Libertad south public market."
KBM's position paper, however, said "market vendors strongly oppose the intent of (the resolution) a special committee or study group."
It said the "sudden shift to privatization comes after the Bacolod slaughterhouse at Barangay 35 was turned over to a private corporation."
It cited the possible adverse effects in the transfer of market operation to the private sector, including increases in prices of commodities. (CG Cruz)
