Moot
“However, unlike the administration, we are not inconsistent with our stand,” he added.
Villarante, a lawyer, said the cases filed by the vendors against the City Government will be considered moot and academic if the old market is reopened.
In a press conference yesterday, Gullas said he plans to convert the new public market into an extension of the Talisay City College.
While the main college in Barangay Poblacion offers bachelor courses, the future school in Lagtang will offer technical and vocational courses like welding, electronics, housekeeping, cooking and baking, and bartending.
Gullas said he plans to sign an agreement with the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority to accredit the school.
He said the school will benefit Talisay’s high school graduates. Those who want to acquire or upgrade skills will also be interested.
But before the old market is reopened, Gullas said, the City should improve it.
Talisay approves plan to reopen market
AFTER spending P167 million to build a new market in Barangay Lagtang, the Talisay City Government is heeding the suggestion of Rep. Eduardo Gullas (Cebu, first district) to convert the facility into a technical-vocational school.
Vice Mayor Alan Bucao said the City Council will pass a resolution supporting the recommendation of Gullas and Mayor Socrates Fernandez to reopen the old public market.
The resolution, he said, is in response to consultative meetings conducted by Gullas with more than 100 vendors last Wednesday.
The new market was a project that was initiated by Gullas as first mayor of Talisay as a city in 2001. Of the total sum used in the project, about P104 million came from then president Gloria Arroyo.
The construction of the new market, which occupies a 2.6-hectare lot on the bank of the Mananga River, was completed in 2004 yet but the Talisay City Government was only able to relocate the vendors in August 2011.
The vendors, however, did not transfer without resistance. Home-made explosives were seized during the relocation. Some vendors also filed a case in court to prevent the City Government from transferring them to Lagtang.
City Councilor Romeo Villarante, a member of the opposition, said his partymates in the council will not oppose the resolution because they have always supported the vendors.