There is recurring and persistent talk circulating around in texts and private conversations that the agora, which is surfacing to be one of the most spacious and the best public markets in the country, has become a source of graft.

At the rate these ugly talks are going, and if the allegations are true, the agora will end-up a government facility being cornered and monopolized by big business to the exclusion of small entrepreneurs who have long been earning their livelihood and  deriving income therein.

Accordingly, any one interested to get a space or stall inside the agora must come up with no less than P300,000.00. In fact, spaces or stalls requiring the said amount has already ran out, the talks and rumors pointed out,  what is left available are those costing P400,000.00 and P500,000.00.

The said amount, which is obviously “under the table” and  will not be receipted, is apart from the occupancy deposit of some P50,000.00 for a particular space or stall one can get which, of course, will be receipted by the city treasurer’s office, and the monthly rentals that will be charged and collected by the city government.  According to those in the know, the grantees and occupants would still spend some more for expensive grills and door shutters which are specified and have to be complied.

Repeat, these are only rumors handed from one ear to another. However, if the Pagadian City Council has not yet drawn up a plan and enacted an ordinance categorically setting up the rules and regulations and delineating the ways and means for the grant of spaces and stalls and for those granted to occupy and use them, then, the adverse and ugly talks and rumors have a strong basis for people to believe.

There is a strong possibility that those who had been occupying spaces and stalls in the different sections of the agora would find themselves eased out and holding empty bags, virtually deprived of their livelihood.

Mayor Sammy Co must surely deny and dispel these ugly rumors.  He should be the first one to propose to the city council the necessary guidelines and he should insist on transparency in the grant of spaces and stalls inside the New Agora. Not doing so would be courting  public suspicion and ire.

It is not remote that certain businessmen in the city could be lobbying, cornering and making things difficult for the city mayor to effect a fair, just and equitable apportionment of choice agora spaces and stalls.

If the allegations and ugly rumors are true, this is a crime against the economy and one form of graft and corruption that cannot be concealed, for it will surely stink and its foul smell will spread and affect everyone.

I am calling on the city mayor: IF YOU ARE LOOKING FORWARD TO A LONGER POLITICAL CAREER AND AVOID BEING CHARGED OF HAVING VIOLATED THE ANTI-GRAFT LAW, DO SOMETHING FAST AND CONCRETE NOW!

Last update : 03-03-2008 14:32

Average user rating

   (0 vote)