Second times a charm can treñas admin 2.0 finally solve public market woes

By: Emme Rose Santiagudo

ONE of the pressing issues that the incoming administration of Iloilo City mayor-elect and lone district Rep. Jerry Treñas will again face are the dilapidated public markets and alleged corrupt management.

Outgoing Mayor Jose Espinosa III said that it’s up to his brother-in-law to respond to the pressing issues and concerns in the public markets.

“It should be up to the next administration kon ano himuon nila.  I started it, I saw the problem kon what would be their procedure kag kon anhun nila ang problema, I would leave it to them,” he said.

Weeks before the elections, Espinosa slammed the alleged extortion at the biggest public market in the city, the Iloilo Terminal Market or “Super.”

Espinosa earlier said he received complaints from some vendors at the Terminal Market on the alleged extortion perpetrated by some personalities who rent out tables, light bulbs, and plastic canvas used to cover fish products.

The mayor identified Punong Barangay Alain Rey Depatillo of Rizal Pala-Pala I and Noel Soliman of Rizal Pala-Pala II as the people behind the alleged extortion rackets at the Terminal Market.

Both Depatillo and Soliman denied the allegations.

Aside from the alleged extortion rackets, Espinosa also spotted other irregularities in the system at the Terminal Market, particularly the electrical connections of vendors.

He even sought the help of the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) by sending a letter asking for an investigation on the alleged extortion.

As of now, Espinosa said he is still waiting for the reports of the NBI.

Espinosa will be replaced by his brother-in-law after he was defeated in the May 13, 2019 elections.

Treñas, who first served as city mayor from 2001 to 2010, has committed to solve the problems in the public markets during the campaign period.

During the “Agenda 2019: The Search for the Next Iloilo CEOs” of the Philippine Chamber of Commerce & Industry (PCCI) – Iloilo Chapter on April 30 at the Grand Xing Imperial Hotel, Treñas particularly highlighted the need for rehabilitation of all public markets in the city.

“Public markets should be addressed immediately. We want to make all public markets clean, hygienic, complete with facilities compliant with ordinances, well lighted and ventilated conducive to economic activities,” he said.

Whether or not Treñas keeps his commitments will be known after he assumes office on June 30.