THE Mandaue City Market Authority has been collecting P50,000 more every day since it opened all the gates at the Mandaue City Public Market.
On June 14, 2021, Mayor Jonas Cortes issued Executive Order 18, ordering the opening of all 24 gates of the public market and easing entry requirements.
Market-goers no longer have to present a quarantine pass or undergo a temperature check, but they are still required to wear face masks and face shields.
Market authority head Edgar Seno said they used to collect P60,000 to P70,000 daily from stall rentals, utility bills paid by vendors and parking fees when only half of the market’s gates were open. After June 14, their collected went up to P100,000 to P115,000 daily, he said.
Seno said they also noted a 30 percent increase in the market’s foot traffic.
With this development, he said vendors not only earn more, but the City Government, which operates the market, also generates more income.
He said the feedback from vendors has been positive, especially since the number of market-goers has gone up. That means they are able to sell more and therefore pay their rent on time, he said.
Before all 24 gates were opened, Seno said some vendors were hesitant to pay rent since they could hardly make ends meet.
Seno hopes coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) cases in the city will remain low so protocols will remain at ease and the market can sustain its income.
He said they’ve deployed 22 market personnel to conduct roving patrols to ensure market-goers and vendors observe minimum health protocols.
They also admonish violators, Seno said, adding that there are those who still don’t wear their masks properly.
Seno said they’ve also been encouraging vendors to register for the City’s vaccination program since they are included in the A4 (frontline personnel in essential sectors, including uniformed personnel) and A5 (indigent population) priority groups.
Seno said it is better for vendors to get vaccinated since they are exposed to many different people every day.
However, some are still hesitant to get the jab, he said.
Meanwhile, the Market Authority has announced that it plans to set up a tricycle terminal at the corner of B. Ceniza St. and P. Gomez St. to improve transportation going to the market.
Tricycle drivers will be charged a terminal fee.
Seno said they will meet with the Traffic Enforcement Agency of Mandaue to finalize the plan. (KFD)