Vendors abandon new P370M Mandaue market

Gripped by fear, several vendors refuse to go back to their stalls at the new Mandaue City Public Market and have begun selling on the streets instead.

Welhemina Alarde, 58, said she prefers to sell on the sidewalks.

“Feel nako gabok mani ang market mao mahadlok nako musulod,” she said. (I think the market isn’t stable. I’m afraid to go inside.)

Authorities have yet to finish a report on the structural stability of the market building, which partly collapsed during Tuesday’s earthquake, killing a female vendor who was hit in the head by debris.

For now, Mayor Jonas Cortes said vendors will be given tents and can occupy the open space surrounding the market while perishable items like meat will be sold at the tennis court.

The public market was built with a P370 million loan from the Development Bank of the Philippines (DBP) in 2006 during the term of then mayor Thaddeo Ouano.

The city government shells out about P3 million a month as loan amortization. Vendors started using the market in January 2012.

President Aquino briefly visited the market last Wednesday and told the mayor to prioritize the safety of vendors and consumers.

Aquino checked the place where vendor Jorenda Casul was killed by debris as she was rushing out during the earthquake.

Insured

City Legal Officer Giovanni Tianero said the insurance claim for the market loan covers earthquake damage.

The Mandaue City Council declared a state of calamity in the city yesterday.

The council also authorized P50,000 financial aid for Casul’s family and P25,000 to Neri Abaya, another quake victim who remains in critical condition.

A sum of P5,000 will go to each person injured in Tuesday’s earthquake.