• CHRYSEE G. SAMILLANO
An ordinance establishing a public market in Barangay Alijis, Bacolod City, was passed by the Bacolod Sangguniang Panlungsod on first reading Wednesday.
The ordinance authored by Councilor Dindo Ramos said that establishing a public market encourages the development of the community where it becomes the venue for retail trade of local agricultural and other products.
The public market also typically creates entrepreneurial opportunities for micro and small scale economic endeavors by making available fresh and affordable goods for the consumers of the community, it said.
The ordinance to be known as the “Barangay Alijis Public Market Ordinance of Bacolod City”, provides that the market will be located on a designated lot owned or acquired by the city government for such purpose. It will be managed and supervised by the City Economic Enterprise Office (CEEO) in coordination with the Barangay Council of Alijis.
A selection committee, to be chaired by a representative of the city mayor, should be created to develop the qualification criteria for vendors to own selling stalls and set-up requirements and regulations for compliance of vendors.
All vendors should be required to register with the CEEO and secure a market permit. Rental fees for stalls and other charges should be determined by a separate Revenue Ordinance.
The initial funding for the construction and development of the public market should be sourced from the city government’s annual budget, supplemented by possible grants, loans, or public-private partnership arrangements.*
