TANAUAN, Leyte, Feb. 18 (PNA) -- Market vendors
here have been looking forward to the completion of the public market badly
damaged by Super Typhoon Yolanda, funded under the national government's
post-disaster recovery program.
"We really need to transfer as soon as
possible so that it would be more convenient for us and our customers,"
said a vegetable vendor, who requested anonymity for fear of not getting a good
space at the new market.
According to her, they were forced to sell their
produce on roadsides and any vacant space while waiting for the reconstruction
of the market, hence, affecting their sales.
"Our income has been reduced since the temporary
market place for vegetables is not a strategic location," she said.
The Department of Public Works and Highways funded
the construction of the wet market building, with a total budget of PHP54.33
million. Actual construction began in May 2015.
Virgilio Eduarte, DPWH-Eastern Visayas assistant
regional director, said the wet market building is substantially completed.
"Yes, it is about 90 percent complete. The
target is to complete it this March," he said.
On the other hand, the Department of the Interior
and Local Government (DILG) funded the construction of a separate market meant
for dry goods, which has been built like row houses beside the wet market.
The DILG-supervised project has a budget of
PHP53.88 million.
"Last month, I was able to talk with the mayor
of Tanauan, and he told me he will turn over the market to stall owners by
summer," said DILG assistant regional director, Artermio Caneja.
Vendors were scheduled to transfer to the new
building last December, but this did not push through because construction had
yet to be completed at that time.
"The progress of this public market is moving
slowly. It is very inconvenient that you have to go to different places to buy
what you need,” said customer Estelita Navarro. (PNA)
CVL/SQM/Gerico A. Sabalza
(OJT)
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