Vendors raise security, sanitation concerns in Bulua public market

By LITO RULONA
Correspondent

AN ASSOCIATION of market vendors operating inside Bulua Public Market has been complaining that there are no police securing the area in the past several months.

The association has raised this complaint before the City Council’s committee on economic enterprise chaired by City Councilor Ian Mark Nacaya.

Jimsly Otida, president of the Cagayan de Oro Fish-Vegetable Marketers Association also raised several issues of concern regarding the present condition of the vegetable landing area such as water system, foul odor, problem on solid waste management, and lack of police visibility in the area, among others.

“Daghan kaayo kawat kay walay police visibility sa area even ang police station sulod sa (Bulua) terminal wala diha,” he said.

He claimed that every day there are a lot of groups who spend their time drinking intoxicating liquor inside the terminal and public market.

Some other persons also engaged in illegal gambling activities inside the premises, Otida added.

“Sa fish landing area gani permi ang kagubot pero walay gabadlong kay wala may police,” he said.

Otida also raise other complaints like drainage clogging along the market and terminal areas which has caused flooding especially during heavy rains.

To address their issues and concerns, Nacaya called for a dialogue between the management of the market and the vendors associations at the vegetable landing area in Barangay Bulua.

During the meeting, Ricardo Carson, OIC-EWBT, said they already have a police officer assigned in the area since last week. He said he requested the presence of police officers at  the market to address peace and order concerns.

Carson said he also requested the Cagayan de Oro Water District to act on the inadequate supply of water in the market.

He added that COWD planned to improve the water system and consider on individualized metering for each stallholder.

Carson added he requested the City Local Environment and Natural Resources Office (Clenro) to provide standby unit garbage truck in the market vicinity, even as he requested stallholders to properly place their garbage and to cooperate with the assigned sweepers.

As this developed, Nacaya advised the EWBT management to call for a meeting with Clenro, and requested the associations to attend the meeting and participate in finding solutions to the said problems.