Tabunok market closed

After months of resisting a transfer, vendors of the  public market in Tabunok, Talisay City, found their old hangout closed yesterday.

Despite a human barricade by protesting vendors, police managed to fence the old public market to implement a closure order and arrested one man  at 7 a.m. yesterday.

Talisay consumers can now find  wet and dry goods at the new Gullas-Macapagal public market in Lagtang, where  four-month rent-free stalls were dangled by the Talisay City government.

Supt. Eddie Recamara, acting Talisay City police chief, said police were forced to enter the old Tabunok market after  200 vendors refused to yield. Police  seized three Molotov cocktails or improvised explosives and arrested Archie Villaflor, 18, who had two .38 revolvers and ammunition.

A few vendors still did business at the Tabunok site  even if it was fenced.

“Only our loyal customers bought from us. We earned only a little,” said vendor Pely Destillore.

Another vendor Eda Saliot, who moved to the new Gullas-Macapagal public market, said they are hopeful that business will pick up for them in the new site.

Talisay Mayor Socrates Fernandez said the city would  provide legal aid to the policemen who  enforced the closure of the old Tabunok market.

The Talisay City Council said they will amend a resolution to give four months of free rent to vendors who relocate to the Gullas-Macapagal market.

Vice Mayor Alan Bucao said the  free rent is their way of  encouraging vendors. Stall payments will be collected on January 2012.

Bucao, who visited the new market yesterday with his family, said customers were already flocking there.

“It can’t be avoided that some will feel  uneasy with the new environment,” he said. Gabriel C. Bonjoc and Carmel Loise Matus, Correspondents