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Wednesday, August 16, 2006
Malilong: Satellite public market in Lapu-Lapu
By Frank Malilong Jr.
The Other Side
Lapu-Lapu City officials should reconsider their plan to construct a satellite public market along the only road that leads to the posh Shangri-la Mactan. A public market is a necessity, no doubt about it, but I don’t think it is wise to locate it along the only approach to one of the city’s most internationally famous landmarks.
Lapu-Lapu City Mayor Arturo Radaza has reportedly expressed his misgivings on the wisdom of the project, albeit privately, but the City Council appears determined to pursue it at the prodding of the barangay council of Buaya. The latest word is that the City has already notified two landowners of its intention to expropriate the affected private properties.
Before they take the final plunge, Lapu-Lapu City officials should visit the Tabunok public market. Shortly after he assumed office as Tabunok barangay captain, Manuel Cabriana asked for help in maintaining “the openness of our roadways and the cleanliness of our sidewalks.”
Cabriana noted how drivers indiscriminately parked their cargo trucks to unload farm goods on the highway near the Tabunok market, causing traffic to build up in the vicinity. Moreover, the sidewalks were littered with garbage, he said, competing with pushcarts, tables and other makeshift contraptions in which vendors display their goods.
The experience in Tabunok and in Liloan and Compostela demonstrates the need to locate public markets in the inner sections of a locality. Consolacion saw this and transferred its public market away from the national highway.
Tourism is a major contributor to Mactan’s economy, thanks largely to such establishments as Shangri-la and the other hotels and beach resorts in the island. Not surprisingly, the City's development thrust in Shangri-la and adjacent areas is tourism-oriented.
Operation of a public market in the area would very clearly be inconsistent with this thrust. I do not think a tourist will enjoy being held up in traffic on his way to his hotel by tricycles, delivery vans, pushcarts and sidewalk vendors.
Don’t tell me this is a concern that proper law enforcement cannot address. There is a law that bans tricycles from the highways but they’re still out there because our officials don’t want to lose their votes. It will be the same with sidewalk vendors.
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The Palace of Justice is being renovated. I just hope they will include a decent waiting area for litigants in the plan. As trial lawyer Greg Escasinas has pointed out, these people have to mill around the area fronting the main door to the courtroom building because there’s no other place where they can be while awaiting entrance of their lawyers and witnesses. Greg said there should at least be benches where they can sit.
If government doesn’t have the money for this purpose, can the Integrated Bar or any of the various lawyers’ groups pitch in?
(fmmalilong@yahoo.com)
For Bisaya stories from Cebu. Click here. (August 16, 2006 issue)
Write letter to the editor.Click here.
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