TARLAC CITY -- Aleng Purita Yumang was shocked to see that there was no any single stall open at the Tarlac City Public Market or the Uptown Market when she arrived there early morning Tuesday to buy some meat her daughter’s debut menu.
"Akala ko ay kung ano ang nangyari sa palengke kasi walang nakabukas eh alas siete na ng umaga," she said. She was told that vendors will close down the public market as a protest to its privatization.
The more than 100 vendors trooped down to city hall for a chance to have a dialogue with Mayor Gelacio Manalang. Unfortunately, the mayor was not around so Vice-mayor Anne Belmonte, Councilor Emy Ladera Facunla and City Administrator Godofredo Sabado, talked to the vendors.
"Makikita ninyo wala kaming mga dalang mga placards, wala kaming sound system. Hindi kami nag-ingay, hindi kami nanggulo dahil hangad namin ay payapang dialogo lamang kay Mayor," Thelma Bagorio, leader of the vendor's association said.
The vendors complained why there was no public hearing when the Sangguniang Panglungsod (SP) passed a resolution to privatize the operation of the public market. Belmonte explained that they don't need to call for a public hearing if the SP is passing a resolution because it is not an ordinance. Sabado explained that the City is losing money in operating the public market.
"The local finance committee made a study that says the vendors' fees are not enough to cover operational expenses. The said fees are not even enough to cover the utilities like water and electricity bills of the market, and, we have also the city have other services to take care of and not only the Uptown Market," Sabado said.
Dario Dizon is a vendor for 15 years now. He said they are only paying P20 a day per stall but now that it's already privatized, they are asked to pay P100. According to Nicecito Chua, former city administrator, one of the reasons why the city public market was privatized is to stop the illegal collection of fees from the vendors.
"Madaming magnanakaw diyan sa palengke kaya kawawa ang mga vendors," Chua said.
The open forum between the vendors and the city Government did not reach common agreement so the vendors said that they will extend their self imposed shut down of the market until Manalang will give them the audience they are seeking.