Cebu 1st district Rep. Eduardo Gullas is now pushing for the reopening of the old Tabunok public market.
The change of heart, according to the congressman who is now running for mayor of Talisay City, came after consulting vendors in barangay Lagtang, where the city public market was transferred two years ago.
But before the transfer could be made, Gullas said the old market needs to undergo improvements.
This include re-installation of power and water supply, fixing the roof and floor, and have the Talisay city engineering office check the structural safety of the market building.
In a press conference yesterday afternoon in his office at the University of the Visayas (UV), Gullas told reporters that he has requested the City Council to review and check if there is an ordinance or a resolution that approved the transfer of the old Tabunok Public Market to the Lagtang Public Market.
Gullas said he intends to convert the Lagtang public market into an extension of the Talisay City College (TCC).
Market vendors have complained of low sales in the Lagtang public market.
Gullas had supported the transfer of the public market to barangay Lagtang two years ago.
Liberal Party (LP) mayoralty candidate, Councilor Romeo Villarante, belittled Gullas’s change of heart. He said it is just meant to gain political mileage. He added, the move may be “too late” as the people disadvantaged by the transfer have already made up their minds.
But Gullas said politics has nothing to do with his decision.
He said as a leader he is just listening to the sentiments of the people.
Gullas admitted that the city government got offers from SM and Gaisano to buy the lot for mall development.
He said if elected mayor in May 13, he will not sell the 1.3 hectare lot in Tabunok.
“A good city administrator would always welcome SM… . And that will help the economy of the city if they would be there,” he told reporters.
But he said, if SM plans to put up a mall in Talisay, he would offer another lot owned by the city government.