In fact, this reporter have overheard unknown vendors spouting this ugly line when this reporter conducted ocular inspection in the area the morning following the fire.

It can be remembered that the honorable Mayor have stated in an interview with this reporter that "there will be re-sectioning of stalls. At present you will notice that you can buy groceries, spices and rice, etc., in one stall. Under the new system, if you are selling rice, you will be at the rice section and you are not allowed to sell any other item". Click here now for Mayor Co's plan on Agora Re-engineering .

Recently we have published the Mayor’s plan to re-engineer the Agora. The Mayor had estimated the budget to be from P7 to P10 million for the rehabilitation of some buildings inside Agora. “But now with the fire, even P20-Million is not enough to reconstruct the damaged buildings,” Co disclosed.

Re-engineering Cheaper than Fire Damage

I am not crazy to do that, if the reason is only to drive out people for the sake of development in the area, the fire damaged more or less P70-million, P30-million of that is the estimated damage from the city government side and P40-million from the vendors. We can not afford to lose that amount just to implement development. I would like to let you know that I am not a lazy public servant to implement projects and development by sacrificing our poor people doing livelihood at Agora.

Bird's eyeview of the Agora before the fire. The buildings below the water tank are severely damaged by the fire.

Delayed Re-sectioning Contributed to Fire Hazard

Maybe the city government can be blamed because of the long delay of implementation of re-sectioning at the vegetables and spices building (the fire started in this area-author). The area has a bakery, carenderia and cafeteria where they are cooking which is very hazardous or vulnerable to fire. In fact, this is the second time that the area was razed by fire,” Mayor Co Explained.

"For the moment we have temporarily relocated the affected vendors. The vegetables and spices vendors are relocated around the razed building while waiting for their temporary shelter. For the Okay-okay vendors, they were assigned at the quadrangle parking area while the parking place is temporarily closed to accommodate them. The dried fish vendors will occupy near the fresh fish and the fresh fish will remain as is because the building was only partially damaged.

Mayor Co Acted Swiftly to Release Funds

The P15-million is intended to finance the construction of the building, the other P1-million was allocated for the initial financial support to the vendors affected by the fire expected to be released within the week and P600-thousand for the immediate construction of temporary shelter for the vendors to use so that they can start their livelihood, Mayor Sammy Co told the reporters in a press conference called at the City Mayors Conference Room on April 27, 2007.

We are also seeking financial assistance from our Governor Auring Cerilles, Congressman Victor Yu of the first district and to Congressman Tony Cerilles of the second district and also to the National Disaster Coordinating Council ," Mayor Co added. (Click here now to read the assistance given).

Last update : 28-04-2008 20:07

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