Market vendors in Puerto Princesa have turned to the City Council to raise their concerns over what they described as “heavy-handed” implementation of rules under the new management of the public markets, which the manager denied.
During a meeting on August 7 led by the Committee on Market, Slaughter House, and Other Economic Enterprise, members of the Mga Manininda ng Puerto Princesa Inc. (MMPPI) faced the new city market management to clarify recent policy changes.
MMPPI President Teresa Gabayan said vendors felt their rights were being restricted under the new administration.
One concern raised was the reported prohibition against posting complaints on social media, with those who do being summoned to the City Administrator’s Office.
“Parang ganun [martial law], ganun ang dating, ‘yun ang dating sa vendors talaga. Parang ura-urada at ito ako, kaya ko ito. Hindi ganun ang vendor e, kausapin mo at hindi ‘yung sasalungatin natin na, hindi ko sinasabi na wag kayong sumunod. Ang sa akin, pakiusap na ayusin naman natin, ‘yung approach ba, kung papaano mo ipapaliwanag at kung papaano mo kakausapin,” she said.
Gabayan said they are open to reforms but hope changes are implemented gradually and with compassion, especially since most vendors are struggling to sustain their small businesses.
She added they were forced to seek the City Council’s help because complaints from their members have continued to rise.
“Isa po sa hinahangad natin is ‘yung maging maayos ang trato sa ating mga vendor… Iba kasi ang actual na nandun na nangyayari kaysa sa ganitong pag-uusap,” she stated.
The city’s new market manager, Engr. Irene Lagrada, responded to the accusations, saying she is merely enforcing the rules under the city’s market ordinance, specifically Section 6 of City Ordinance No. 397, or the Puerto Princesa City Revenue Code.
She said her mandate from Mayor Lucilo Bayron is to clean and organize the markets.
“Ito po ay ipinagkatiwala sa akin kalakip ang tungkuling panatilihin ang kalinisan, kaligtasan, katiwasayan sa palengke… at maging kayo rin [vendors] at hindi lang gobyerno,” Lagrada said.
Violations discovered
She pointed out several violations she discovered since taking over, including vendors occupying multiple stalls, the presence of illegal occupants, unauthorized subleasing, and vendors who have turned parts of the market into living spaces.
Lagrada asserted she is willing to step down if vendors demand it, but the decision rests with the mayor.
“Ang palengke ay magulo at hindi organisado nung pumasok ako dyan… ahat ng mga nabanggit ko ay malinaw na paglabag sa ating market code kaya ito ay ating inaksyunan sa paraang patas, patas po ako,” she said.
“Handa akong magbitiw sa pwesto… ngunit ‘yan ay nasa desisyon ng ating punong lungsod. Ang Public Market Office po, in a way ay pag-aari ng gobyerno at hindi ninyo [vendors] ‘yan pag-aari,” Lagrada added.
But Homer Capinig, one of the members of the market vendors association, defended against accusations related to the alleged overcrowding and code violations in the old market.
In a post under a video posted by Palawan News, he clarified that market vendors should not be the ones to be blamed for unauthorized expansion. He said his own stall was relocated after a fire, without going through the proper market committee process.
“Hindi po kami ang nagparami ng vendors dyan. Yung pwesto ko nga dyan sa building 4 nasunog, nalipat sa iba na hindi dumaan sa market committee.”
“Sino nag approve? Dumaan ba sa proseso? Sino ang nag violate ng market code? Siguradong hindi ako, vendor lang ako panahon yan ni Alfred Sy,” he said.
Councilor Elgin Damasco reminded everyone that vendors played a key role in bringing the markets back under public control after a legal battle with a private operator.
He acknowledged the need to follow ordinances but also encouraged a “win-win solution” to prevent further issues.
“Hindi natin mababawi ‘yan kung walang suporta ang mga vendors… isa sila sa mga nagsampa ng kaso gamit ang sarili nilang mga pera,” Damasco stressed.
Solutions found
Some issues were addressed during the meeting. These included clarifying that vendors may now post online without fear of reprisal, allowing chairs at stalls within agreed size limits, and plans to designate a common stockroom.
Committee chair Councilor Victor Oliveros expressed hope that both sides will follow through on the agreements made. He said no resolution was needed for the issues raised against Lagrada, but other concerns like the lack of space in the new market still need to be addressed.
“Hindi naman tayo nagtatapos dito. Kami ay nagtatrabaho para sa inyo [vendors] at handang pakinggan ang inyong mga hinaing,” Oliveros said.
“Hinihingi din namin ang pang-unawa ninyo [vendors]… ginagabayan tayo ng ating mga ordinansa at iba pang mga umiiral na batas pang nasyunal,” he added.
Meanwhile, Palawan News learned on the evening of August 7 that members of the meat vendors cooperative are also planning to seek help from the city council regarding their own concerns.
Public discussion on social media
As public discussions around market policies continue, vendors and consumers alike have taken to social media to express strong opinions over recent rules imposed in Puerto Princesa’s public markets.
Some Facebook users focused on the issue of vendors allegedly being prohibited from sitting down during operating hours.
“Habang tumatagal lalong dumadami mga nagiging bobo sa Pinas… anong klaseng pag-iisip yan pati upuan ibabawal nyo sa mga vendor sa palengke?” user Jerome Londonio criticized the policy more harshly.
“Grabe naman po, bawal umupo? Paano ‘yung mga senior citizens na nag-aarimong ng pambili ng pagkain ng pamilya, patayuin lang maghapon?” Jasmine Patacsil added.
Other comments pointed to sanitation and order concerns. Florante Caralipio suggested that the public market administration should strictly prohibit the pouring of water on the floor and smoking among vendors and workers to help maintain cleanliness.
Meanwhile, Helen Gerardo said that market clutter and the vendors’ lack of discipline contribute to the untidy environment, saying it becomes difficult to walk through when chairs are everywhere and vendors are preoccupied with chatting.
She emphasized the need for vendor discipline to keep the market orderly.
“Ang ipatupad dapat ng pamunuan ng public market, bawal na magbuhos ng tubig sa sahig para hindi dogyut at ang paninigarilyo ng mga nagtatrabaho,” said Caralipio.
“Masikip at mahirap dumaan kung panay upuan doon then tsismis pa sila… Dapat disiplinado din mga vendor,” Gerardo stressed.
