BAGUIO CITY – A world-class public market in Tabuk City will soon rise free of government expense.
Tabuk City Mayor Darwin Estrañero said the winning formula for the city government having no single cent to spend in building a world-class public market is certain while Tabuk is also poised to earn at least P7million a year in business taxes, permits and other fees from the venture.
The development of the P640M Bulanao Public Market has two components: a public market with a transport terminal and a commercial center featuring a modern and elegant mall. It will have a dry section, wet section, livestock section, commercial stalls, and a transport terminal.
Mayor Estrañero said the city officials took into consideration the advantages to Tabukeños. “They will be experiencing a win-win situation because of a spacious public terminal as well as commercial center with the following amenities: community mall, supermarket, hotel, two cinemas, restaurants, department stores, branded boutiques, financial services, vanity services, and entertainment area.”
The city government is refuting the wrong notion that the rental prices will excessively increase because of the modern facilities associated with the project. It added that legitimate stall holders need not worry because market stall holder and ambulant vendors will be charged with reasonable rental fees and that a fair and just market code will be drafted to guide market administrators and as protection to market users.
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Ambulant vendors were assured no displacement will occur as Tabuk City will provide a provisional area for them to sell their produce and wares while the construction is ongoing. The city government also offered the affected vendors an option to avail of the priority in the rental stalls or relocation.
Although suggestions that the city government should not be prioritizing the development of public market and instead focus in fighting the effects of the pandemic, “development has to continue because the need for and the right of Tabukeños to quality development projects and good city services remains especially during these times,” Mayor Estrañero explained. Development projects in the city, like the public market, will serve as stimuli to a faltering local economy due to the adverse effects of the pandemic, he stressed, and “the city government will not allow the pandemic to dampen the development of Tabuk City.”
Mel Bayato, Business Development Manager of XRC Mall Developers Incorporated, proposed the market upkeep promising all existing market stallholders in ‘good standing’ are guaranteed to have a space in the market with room to spare for new stall holders.
Bayato said a transport terminal will be integrated into the public market, a certain successful formula.
The planned commercial center features a community mall with supermarket, hotel, two cinemas, restaurants, department stores, branded boutiques, financial services, vanity services, and entertainment area.
Bayato cited employment opportunities the project will bring while expressing confidence on the economic potential of Tabuk City.
Meanwhile, the Bulanao Public Market Stall Owners, Vendors, and Consumers Association (BPMSVCA) remain unconvinced of the benefits of the project, citing the ill-effects of the entry of big corporations and believe development of Tabuk should be left to the locals.
By Hent
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