VM Belen eyes subsidy cut for Malimgas Market
PRIMARY social programs and projects must have priority over subsidy for the Malimgas Public Market.
This was the urgent recommendation of two Dagupan officials as they proposed further cost-cutting measures at the market to reduce the annual subsidy for it.
Vice Mayor Belen Fernandez and Councilor Michael Fernandez made the proposal in a joint press conference where they listed such options as reducing the market’s electricity consumption and keeping manpower at minimum.
“There ought to be cost-cutting at Malimgas and we have to make sure that all its revenues really go to the market,” said Vice Mayor Fernandez.
The two officials pointed out how the market has been operating at aloss since it was built and opened four years ago.
In addition to the subsidy, the city government contends with the quarterly amortization on the P280 million loan obtained by the Lim administration for the construction of building.
Noting the high power consumption at the Malimgas Market, Vice Mayor Fernandez pro-posed the installation of additional ventilation at the second floor so the air-conditioning can be switched off.
The vice mayor also said reducing the market’s operating cost could eventually mean lower rental fees for the vendors.
The two officials, however, did not assure that the city can immediately grant the long pending request of stallholders for the reduction of their stall rentals.
Councilor Fernandez, however, noted that those petitioning for reduced rate were the same stallholders who endorsed the construction as members of the Malimgas Aliguas Dagupan Vendors Federation (MADAVFE) that paved the way for loan.
Vice Mayor Fernandez also maintained that the best strategy to sustain the Malimgas Market is to make it more attractive to entice more investors to its fold.
The two officials gave their assurance that there will be no new taxes and no increases in tax rates next year in consideration of the current global financial crisis which is expected to continue till 2009.—LM
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