TABUK CITY, Kalinga – To hear the public’s concerns and shed light on the upcoming modernization of the Bulanao Public Market, affected vendors, including some stall and house owners, attended the public hearing on April 18 at Davidson Hotel relative to their relocation once the improvement of the market kicked off.
Bulanao Centro Punong Barangay Cosme Gunnawa stated that it is past time to completely support the development of the public market and advised the audience to push for the market’s economic advancement.
“Ipakaasik nga iti pagriknaan mi masapul nga kumbinsarin tayo dagiti kakadwa tayo kasi awan iti maala tayo nu dingdinggen tayo lang dagidiay durog nga kunada nga kakaasi tayo. Kunada ikkataen da balbalay tayo, masapul kuma nga diay iti kitaen tayo, adalen tayo… Agyaman nak kenni mayor, ta siniminto na amin nga dalan” as Gunnawa appealed to the public.
During the event, Mayor Darwin Estrañero outlined the modernization plans through video and photo presentations, which will begin as soon as the groundwork is completed.
He stressed that the development will not discriminate against vendors, including stall and house owners, because they will have options such as the relocation site at Callagdao or the option to keep their enhanced stalls when the work is completed.
“Mabalin nga maited tayo kanyada apo kapitan ti titulo da, bagi da ngem haan da mabalin mailako, bagi da dayta apo, dayta iti ited iti gobyerno” Estrañero answered.
He explained that there will be a section of the market set out for ambulant vendors, complete with tables and chairs for their goods and collapsible tents for use on market days. Ambulant vendors will pay the same ticketing fees to the Barangay, therefore their rental prices will remain same. For improved organization, stalls of various commodities will be zoned appropriately.
Estrañero also indicated that the price of food and other goods will not increase since rent will be kept at a fairly reasonable level. Visitors to the market will be able to use clean, comfortable toilets for free. A central terminal will be built to accommodate various transit groups both within and outside the province. More jobs will be created with the establishment of a call center, in addition to the jobs that will be offered by business owners who will be occupying the Mall, which will benefit both young graduates and other Tabukeños seeking employment.
Bulanao Centro officials together with some city government officials will conduct an ocular inspection of the relocation site in Callagdao with the affected house and stall owners on Friday afternoon this week.
As previously reported, the proposed development of the Bulanao Public Market with XRC Mall Developers Incorporated is worth around P640 million, and according to Mayor Darwin Estrañero, the city government will earn at least P7 million annually from the same.
By Ian Jefrey Addatu
