CALASIAO- The town had reason to celebrate when its former public market here, now called the Calasiao Royal Arcade, was inaugurated last August 26.

However, it was not the case for a number of original stallholders in the old market.

Mayor Mark Roy Macanlalay explained that not all the old market stallholders could return to their former stalls in the market since they refused to pay the new and higher rental fees although the municipality kept its word to the stallholders and gave them priority.

He said the new fees are comparable to rates in other towns.

He said the municipal government has yet to decide where to relocate the vendors who did not avail of the stalls inside the new market since only the Royal Arcade was intended precisely for them.

Macanlalay expressed hope that the private group managing the new market will consider the plea of stall owners for a lower rate but maintained that the number of vacant stalls has not affected the projected revenues from the market’s operations .

The rice stalls, groceries, school supplies and cellphone shops on the ground floor have long been operational. Only the second floor called the Fiesta Mall where the RTWs, household materials, electronics, appliance and others were located was officially opened for business.

The new market was built under the private and public partnership (PPP) which was funded solely by the private entity. In return, the private entity will pay lease to the municipal government along with other fees such as permits and taxes and after 25 years, when the term of agreement expires, the building will be turned over to the local government unit. (Hilda M. Austria/PNA)

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