Churchill Aguilar HERE’S my third installment on a forum among the three leading mayoral candidates as they fearlessly tackle issues that beset our city. Once again let me yield my space to their answers on my question of the day. Question: Our public markets, although vibrant, are not quite at par with how other major cities plan and arrange their public markets. How do you propose to put in place workable and efficient public markets that will propel local economy? Mayor Oca: “CDO is the convergence hub in Northern Mindanao. Therefore its markets play a crucial role in its economic development. These are our programs: “ • Redevelop Cogon and Carmen Market and transform them into a tourist destination market where they will provide the best environment for consumers and great quality commodities as well.  Consumers must enjoy shopping in these markets. “ • Establish a new market in Lumbia area in order to serve the uptown part of CDO. This shall serve as the ‘bagsakan’ area for farm produce coming from the upper barangays and Bukidnon area thus addressing the high costs of transporting goods from the farms to the markets. “ • Relocate Puerto Market and establish  a new market that will cater to the eartern barangays of CDO including some parts of eastern Misamis Oriental and Bukidnon. The planned new markets shall provide an alternative venue for street vendors and decongest the traffic around Cogon and Carmen markets. “ • Improve the Westbound Terminal and Public Market to best serve the western part of the city and Misor. “We believe that our markets are essential elements in our agricultural productivity, tourism and poverty alleviation agenda.” Congressman Rufus: “Our program is to clean and put order in our main public markets in Cogon, Carmen and Puerto. In Cogon and Carmen markets, we will review the contracts giving needed spaces to foreign businessmen instead of our Kagay-anon vendors. We will find legal grounds to terminate these contracts and give the spaces to the vendors now occupying the side streets of the markets. We will build a two-storey public market in the present site of the overcrowded and dirty Puerto market. The stalls will be given to the present stallholders of the Puerto market.” Former Mayor Dongkoy: “If you recall, my administration initiated the redevelopment of the Cogon and Carmen public markets, as well as opened a new growth area in Barangay Bulua with the Westbound Terminal and Public Market through public-private partnership. “This unprecedented move has been widely emulated by the rest of the country. Many local governments came to learn from Cagayan de Oro then. The running of the markets were then undertaken by the city’s private partners and they did very well until the city prematurely resumed the reins. “I will review how the markets are run and also push for the redevelopment of Puerto Market, focusing on: “ • Efficient operation and income generation at no additional cost to the city; “ • Maintenance of health and sanitation; “ • Review and observance of stallholder qualifications; and “ • Rigorous upkeep of buildings and facilities.” Public markets have become the bloodstream of thousands of Cagay-anons. My personal bias would say that the rise of big malls, although they generate jobs and they contribute to our local income, they have greatly threatened the small scale businesses who could not compete with big time capitalists. It is therefore essential to know how our next mayor can put a balance on this and promote inclusive growth. You have read their take. Who do you think can make our local markets more vibrant?