Newly-appointed market supervisor, former City Councilor Jessie Miranda bared his plans for the improvement of the Auxiliary Wet Market to address pressing problems that have been the subject of complaints among vendors as well as consumers in the past few years. Miranda used to operate a business at the market area before his election as a three-term councilor.
Miranda expressed his desire to make the market as “clean, green and orderly” as possible, prioritizing water supply in all stalls, covering of all canals, re-zoning through color-coding of stalls, waste disposal system, among other things.
“The new market code which is being finalized contains these provisions,” Miranda, who is also a doctor, stressed, alluding to the inclusion of health and sanitation.
For water supply, faucets will be installed in every stall in the wet sections, including the “carenderias” in the vicinity. “I am now presently coordinating with the La Union Water District, which would provide the supply of potable water.”
At present, Market vendors Association president Mita Puzon said that they have to fetch water from a nearby neighborhood jet-matic pumps for cleaning their stalls before the USAID-ECO Asia-sponsored wastewater treatment facility became operational last December 4.
Puzon also complained of damaged iron coverings on the mid-section canals which perennially trips consumers particularly on crowded market days. Miranda assured vendors to address the problem through he installation of permanent coverings.
“We will put tiles in every stall and put up permanent yellow markers so that vendors would not exceed their areas,” he said, and added that he will help implement a color-coding scheme, depending on the market products. “I don’t want any encroachments.”
Mayor Pablo Ortega has reportedly suggested eliminating the stalls encroaching the Don Joaquin and Doña Paca Streets to avoid over-crowding. “He advised me to put all the (vegetable) vendors inside but only in January because they pleaded for more time.”
“We will clear the streets, which will be only for vegetable vendors and put the dry goods in their proper places.”
He would also implement to make use of the “bagsakan” area at the western portion because it is spacious. It may be the main entrance gate along Pacoy Ortega Highway. “We will reverse it this time, we will teach the consumers not the vendors, we will re-route the path of the consumers,” he stressed, and adding that there would be mini-gardens put up in the alleys. |
