Larsian fruit vendors want lower rent

Fruit vendors in the Larsian Food Park are asking s the Cebu provincial government to lower rental rates.

In a meeting yesterday with the Economic Enterprise Council (ECC) presided over by Acting Gov. Agnes Magpale, the vendors said they are having a hard time coping with the high rates which runs to P11,000 per month for a store area of four square meters because their daily sales are slow and their goods are highly perishable.

The tenants are also requesting the Capitol to re-measure the store areas, as they claimed that the space does not add up to four square meters. The stalls charges P2,750 per square meters.

Magpale however said the provincial government cannot arbitrarily lower the rental fee because it underwent a bidding process which the tenants themselves participated.

However, she said the fee could be adjusted once the Capitol makes the final verification that the stalls are less than four square meters.

“We were able to find partial solution because it was found out that the stalls are less than four square meters. Maybe we can lower the price basing on that error,” she said.

The newly-renovated food landmark near Fuente Osmeña has 49 barbeque stalls and nine fruit stands.

Magpale said the rental income is projected to pay for the construction cost of the food park.

Last week, the Capitol padlocked 30 stalls in the food park after the tenants failed to settle their overdue accounts.

Eight fruit stands in front of Larsian and 22 grills inside the facility were padlocked.

Administrative Officer Edna Toring the delinquency reaches for more than half-million pesos.