ILOILO City – Vendors at the Iloilo Terminal Market, popularly called “Super”, were urged to resist those demanding from them to pay unauthorized fees.
Other than the arkabala that the city government collects, the market vendors have nothing else to pay, stressed Mayor Jose Espinosa III.
“Everything is free except for the arkabala nga ginasukot sang syudad. Kon indi legal nga panukot indi gid kamo mag bayad,” he said.
Espinosa revealed that “Super” fish vendors complained to him they were being forced to cough up P50 for using tables, P10 for the trapal and P15 for the lights at the Iloilo Terminal Market.
“Ginhawa na sang isa katumpok sang lubo-lubo ’ya, pila lang ginansyahon ‘ya, kuhaan mo pa? Ti waay na ginansya,” the mayor lamented.
Espinosa confirmed having asked National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) regional director George Jularbal to probe the illegal collection of fees at “Super.”
Describing the illegal activity as large-scale, he said the market vendors were being robbed each day.
The city government’s Local Economic Enterprise Office (LEEO) which oversees the operation of public markets confirmed the problem.
“May mga grupo or individuals nga nagapanukot sa vendors other than the authorized collectors sang aton opisina,” said LEEO chief Ariel Castañeda.
He also clarified that the daily arkabala that LEEO authorized collectors collect ranged only between P10 to 20.
Espinosa denied that his move to investigate the alleged illegal fee collection at “Super” was politically motivated as claimed by barangay captains Noel Soliman of Rizal Pala-pala II and Alain Rey Depatillo of Rizal Pala-pala I.
He pointed to a radio interview were Depatillo reportedly said he was renting out seven tables to “Super” vendors.
“Ngaa ara sya da sa sulod? Iya sang syudad propedad ngaa may lamesa ka da nga ginapabayran? Diin ang report mo sang income mo? May ginbayaran ka nga tax?” said Espinosa.
Barangays Rizal Pala-pala II and I were adjacent to “Super” so the mayor suggested to the NBI to first sought out the two barangay captains who were incidentally supporters of mayoral candidate Cong. Jerry Treñas./PN
