The local legislative body here has proposed major amendments on the existing Market Code which governs the relationship between the municipal government and tenant traders.
Vice Mayor Daniel Gallardo said this move aims to further strengthen the income revenue generating arm of the municipality by defining exactly the duties and responsibilities of every stakeholder.
Gallardo added that for long time, the municipality is without control over the conduct of business by various traders in the public market due to non existence of contract between the parties.
The local legislators led by Narciso Maglanque, Francisco Magat and Luis Pelayo proposed a one time payment of P25,000 by new traders renewable every other three years with P1,000 as renewal fee.
Based on the proposal, the tenants cannot sell, sublease or make use the stall as warehouse and residence as this negates on the very purpose why the public market was constructed.
It was learned that some traders are currently holding more than one stall. In fact, in one of the public hearings conducted, a trader here admitted that he is control of at least eight stalls.
Meanwhile, another trader claimed, she has six stalls but she is currently subleasing to other for P2,500.
Under the proposal, aside from the usual business permits, the municipal government earns only P1,000 every three years while some traders who sublease stalls earn P2,000 to P2,500 every month.
With this, Gallardo explained that traders cannot sell or sublease market stalls which are currently under their disposal. He said, they can only use the stall to conduct business.
He stressed that the municipal government reserves the right to withdraw such privilege should there be violation of the terms of tenancy.
Michael Dan Sagum, a council man, explained that traders were only given grant to conduct business. This according to him is different from having right over the stall. The grant, he clarified, does not include the right to sell and sublease.
Also present in the public hearing, were councilors Edgardo Gulapa, Charina Sombillo, Bienvenido Gatus and Jr., Raquel Foz.