BY CHRYSEE G. SAMILLANO
The newly-assigned chairperson of the Bacolod Sangguniang Panlungsod Committee on Markets and Slaughterhouse filed a resolution to get the ball rolling on the cleanup of Bacolod City’s three major markets.
The SP approved yesterday a resolution authored by Councilor Celia Matea Flor, enjoining the City Engineer’s Office (CEO), City Disaster Risk Reduction Management Office (DRRMO), and General Services Office (GSO) to assist the market administration in conducting immediate cleaning, flushing, de-clogging, dredging and repair of pipelines, drainage and surroundings of Bacolod City’s major markets, namely, Libertad, Burgos and Central Markets, as a stop-gap measure pending full rehabilitation according to the agenda of Mayor Alfredo Abelardo Benitez.
The city public markets are part of the daily lives of every Bacolodnon, where a variety of goods, products and services are sold to the public to address their everyday needs, it said.
One of the city government’s agenda is a clean and healthy public market to make essential goods, products and other services available to the people in a healthy and sanitary environment, the resolution said.
Flor, the chairperson of the Committee in Markets and Slaughterhouse, conducted a routine check of the city’s major markets and discovered various issues that need to be addressed, it said.
Among the problems that surfaced are the clogged pipelines, drainage systems in and surrounding the markets, pools of dirty water, garbage and the overall unsanitary situation, the resolution said.
This situation causes flooding, renders pathways to be impassable, and even worse, pose as health hazards for both vendors and customers, it added.
The resolution said that the mandate of the CEO and the CDRRMO includes the maintenance of drainage systems, cleaning and de-clogging of drainage lines.
Necessary clean-up is needed to encourage consumers and for vibrant economic activity in local markets, it added.*
