Monday, August 06, 2007 'Market in Agora a white elephant' By Danilo V. Adorador III
ANOTHER white elephant in the making, that’s how Representative Rufus Rodriguez (2nd district, Cagayan de Oro) described the planned multi-million public market and passenger terminal renovation in Agora, Lapasan.
Rodriguez said the area should be used instead for the City College since Cagayan de Oro already has two giant market facilities--all located near the downtown area.
Putting up one in Agora, which is barely a kilometer away from Cogon market, would be "impractical because it would then render the two markets less commercially viable," the lawmaker said.
The City College, envisioned as a joint congressional and City Government project, would be best situated in the current dilapidated 2.5 hectare Agora market facility because of its strategic location, he said.
"It's close to the major points in the downtown, and together with other schools in the area, it will form part of a university belt of sorts," Rodriguez said.
As to the eastbound terminal facility in Agora, the lawmaker favored its transfer to the Gusa Eastbound jeepney, saying a passenger terminal located in a populated urban center was ill-advised.
"I think it would be more economical on our part to just expand the Gusa terminal, which I think is more suited for public utility vehicles because the area is not close to the population," Rodriguez said.
A mini-market would then be constructed in Gusa terminal where the current Agora vendors--whose number is dwindling due to the market's deteriorating condition--will be transferred, he added.
The idea was supported by lawyer Rogelio Bagabuyo, an opposition figure who threatened to sue the City Government if the P250 million Agora facelift pushes through.
But Bagabuyo went as far to suggest that Cogon's second floor be also converted as classrooms for the planned City College.
"What we have in the second and third floors of the Cogon market are vendors who are dummies of City Hall officials. The goods and services offered in those areas, such as beauty parlors, are not even fit for a market," the lawyer said.
The proposed Agora renovation is part--and the last-- of the infrastructure program under BOT scheme embarked by the administration for former mayor Vicente Emano, posting a combined cost of over P300 million.
Emano, now a vice mayor, is still adamant in pursuing the project, as the previous City Council failed to approve it before the former mayor left office.
However, it is unclear whether the new administration under Mayor Constantino Jaraula will push for the project.
BOT projects under the Emano administration were criticized for lacking transparency and for being onerous.
A case to void the Cogon BOT deal is pending before a local court, while graft cases were filed against Emano and other officials.
The Commission on Audit has earlier rebuked city officials for not submitting the BOT contracts for Agora and Cogon markets.
