A CAGAYAN de Oro City Councilor said more market vendors are paying their dues religiously as the City Economic Enterprise Development (CEED) implements reforms at the city's public markets.
For the past years, City Councilor Ian Mark Nacaya said delinquent vendors have been a perennial problem of the City Government, pointing out that the markets' earnings are deficit- spending more than what it earns in a year.
But now, Nacaya said the markets can support its operations without asking an amount from the city.
"Ang collection, like for example sa markets, dili nata deficit, ang atong income mosobra pa sa atong expenses. Sa 30 years nga na organize ang CEED for the first time, tinuod nga greenlight, dili na magsubsidize, ang expenses ug capital outlay ug uban pa, atoa na sa merkado (The markets’ income exceed their expenses. For the first time in 30 years when CEED was organized, markets are no longer subsidized including expenses and capital outlay)," Nacay said, the chairman of the City Council committee on enterprise.
Vendors usually pay their business license renewal rate, as well as the 20 percent of the total amount of their delinquency and settle their overdue rates.
"Consistent nga collection, ug reminder sa vendors sa ilang obligasyon. Sa una, ang city kada tuig tapal para sa market spendings pero this year, it's different (Consistent collection and reminder to vendors of their obligation. Before, the city always pay for the market spending but this year, it’s different)," he added.
Meanwhile, the City Council last week approved a P22-million budget as part of the modernization of Cogon and Puerto public markets.
CEED will use the amount to build their own office at Cogon market, cover the cost of CEED computerization as well as the repair of Puerto market, kiosk or collectors’ booth, among others.
A CCTV system will also be installed in the markets.