A market, a street and political will

SOTERO DAUMAR, one of the most congested streets around Cogon Public Market in Cagayan de Oro City, is barely visible in this photo taken before the clearing operations of the new city mayor. Umbrellas marking the space taken over by ambulant vendors covered the street, turning the four-lane road into a scene of chaos where vehicles are squeezed in with pedestrians, market-goers and mainly vendors. BOBBY LAGSA

CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY–Covering four blocks, Cogon is the city’s biggest public market.

Almost all public utility transportation either pass through or converge near the market.

Built in 2004 under a build-operate-transfer scheme, the three-story Cogon Public Market has four escalators, an elevator, and blowers for proper ventilation. Then Mayor Vicente Emano, whose administration bought the market for P250 million, once bragged about making it a world-class market.

It turned out to be the opposite. Outside, chaos rules the street as vendors set up makeshift stalls to display and sell their wares. This, after the city government leased half of the second floor and the entire third floor to Unitop Corp.

“First they removed us from our space. Then they (Unitop) sold competing products,” one vendor said.

Despite causing traffic congestion, Emano allowed the vendors, whom he fondly called kabus (poor), to use the streets.

“Why would you remove the kabus from the streets when they are trying to eke out a living?” he once said.

Aside from traffic, garbage is everywhere. The stench of rotten waste fills the air.

Order of the day

Barely warming in his seat as mayor, Oscar Moreno showed political will by clearing the streets of vendors to improve the flow of traffic.

Dubbed “Operation Hapsay Dalan (Orderly Road),” street vendors in Cogon were forced to remove their makeshift stalls themselves.

After the clearing, many were surprised to see that J.R. Borja Street has four lanes with provisions for parking space on both sides.

“Now, we can clearly see the road,” said Randy Matias, a team leader of Hapsay Dalan Task Force.

Also cleared was Sotero Daumar Street, which used to be filled with vendors marking their spots with umbrellas. The same street also served as a terminal for motorela (pedicabs).

Matias said at first, many vendors resisted, but were later convinced to voluntarily remove their stalls when told why it was needed to be done.

Ricardo Casion, a Road and Traffic Administration (RTA) worker, said they now feel that they can implement the law and city ordinances because they have the backing of the city government.

‘Alas’

“Before, we were afraid to implement the law because the vendors will use the name of  ‘Alas’ and we didn’t want to cross that path,” Casion said.

THE SAME STREET after the clearing operations of new Mayor Oscar Moreno. While a few vendors still spill out into the streets and the scene still looks chaotic, more of the street is now visible and vehicles do not have to compete for space with pedestrians and vendors who received the protection of former Mayor Vicente Emano, known to many of the peddlers as “Alas.” BOBBY LAGSA

Emano is known among residents here as “Alas.”

On Tuesday afternoon, the worn-out tarpaulins which covered the facade of Cogon Public Market were removed, revealing a clearer view of the building and the space for pedestrians.

The tarpaulins served as the vendors’ protection from the rain.

“When the rain comes, it will surely get us soaked,” a vendor said.

Many vendors complained that because of Hapsay Dalan, they will lose their income.

“Where will we get our food? Our children go to school, too,” one vendor said.

Some sidewalk vendors said they have to earn to pay their loans.

Some vendors at Cogon Public Market, however, are satisfied with what the city government is doing. Some of those who rent spaces inside the building have resorted to selling their wares on the street where illegal vendors are.

Gut issues

Marlyn Nacalaban, a resident of Barangay 4 here, said the city government should provide a solution for the vendors, not just remove them from the streets.

“For Moreno, it is hapsay (orderly), but for the vendors, it means food, money for their children,” Nacalaban said.

For the vendors, the immediate solution is for government to provide them space on the streets.

“Just 1 meter from the gutter is what we are asking for,” a vendor said.

Francisco Pagayaman, spokesperson of Kalipunan ng Damayang Mahihirap, said Hapsay Dalan was implemented without prior consultation with those who will be affected.

“When Hapsay Dalan was implemented, it was as if the move was intended to give Moreno immediate political impact in his first days in office,” Pagayaman said.

Pagayaman said majority of the vendors were merely given leaflets, telling them that they have to vacate their spots.

“The task force’s effort to clean the streets is an admirable display of political will. While we welcome the initiative to make public transport more convenient, it would appear to be one-sided if the vendors were left without alternative venues to sell their goods,” he added.

Lawyer Egay Uy, RTA consultant and chief of Operation Hapsay Dalan, said Cogon Market’s second floor has 6,000 square meters of available space, which can accommodate some 2,000 stalls.

Taiwan connection

Many of the vendors complained about the past administration’s favoring Taiwanese traders, now occupying most of Cogon Market’s area.

The Emano administration had granted Unitop Corp. leasing rights to a large area on the second floor and the entire third floor.

“This is called a public market for a reason and now it is no longer publicly owned. Instead, it belongs to a single private company,” a vendor said.

A vendor said they wanted the contract with Unitop nullified.

If the market’s space is back in the hands of the city government, the vendor said, they would not have to sell on the streets.

“As long as no vendor is allowed on the street, we won’t mind selling on the third floor,” another vendor said.

“We don’t mind where we would be placed inside the market as long as it is fair and just for all of us. Not one should be given a better treatment,” a vendor added.