In a move to increase the income of the public market, the Dumaguete City government has adopted measures that include reduction in personnel from 250 to 119, construction of a deep well, and establishment of a state-of-the-art waterless comfort room, that is already earning an average of P100,000 a month for the city.

Mayor Manuel Sagarbarria said that, based on records, the market operation incurred almost P4 million in deficit in 2010, but this was reduced in 2011 and 2012. He said that he does not want to blame anybody, but records will show that he has asked the Sangguniang Panlungsod to enact an ordinance that will increase the market stall fees.

Sagarbarria added that the city market has the lowest stall rates in Negros Oriental and even in neighboring provinces. He cited the rental fee in the meat section at P3 per square meter per day, while in Sibulan town, the rate is P12.50.

He said he believes that nobody from the SP is supporting his proposal to increase the rates because it is unpopular at this time with the elections nearing.*JG

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