Talisay market row

Vendors selling goods at a private lot  in Talisay City are prohibited from selling wares similar to that displayed in the new public market in Lagtang.

The vendors can’t  sell fish, meat, rice, fruits, vegetables and poultry products, said Judge Estela Alma Singco of the Regional Trial Court Branch 12 during yesterday’s hearing.

Property  owners Dr. Jesus  Nacario  and his wife Nieves earlier asked the court to  to stop the Talisay city government from closing their establishment, the Nacario Trade Center.

Some vendors from the old Talisay market moved into the center instead of the new market.

A Talisay City task force last week closed some stalls at the Nacario Trade Center for lack of business permits.

Arturo Bas, Talisay City public information officer, said  the  task force was implementing a city  ordinance prohibiting another market from operating  within a kilometer radius from the new public market.

The new Lagtang public market is about 500 meters from the establishment.

The transfer of  some vendors to the Nacario Trade Center  has been an irritant for the Talisay city government, which had a difficult time moving the vendors after the closure of the old public market last year.

The Nacarios  sued  Talisay City Mayor Socrates Fernandez and other local officials for  “oppressive and rigid imposition of power” after some vendors moved to their establishment.

Mayor Fernandez said he wouldn’t close the Nacario Trade Center but that vendors should respect the court order prohibiting them from selling  goods similar to those sold at the new public market. /Reporter Ador Vincent S. Mayol