Manila City Hall takes over New Antipolo Market

MANILA, Philippines – Manila City Hall has taken over possession and management of the New Antipolo Market through its market administrator under an executive order signed by Mayor Alfredo Lim, GMANews.TV learned on Thursday. According to Executive Order No. 36, Series of 2008, the market was built and operated illegally by the New Antipolo Entrepreneur Development Corp. (NAEDC), the reason for Lim's declaring the market publicly owned. The market occupies the portion of Antipolo Extension from the Obrero Market to P. Guevarra Street, as well as that portion of Oroquieta Street from Antipolo Extension to Blumentritt Street. On October 7, the city legal officer issued an opinion that NAEDC and the vendors who caused the construction of the market were builders in bad faith as provided in the New Civil Code (Republic Act 386) and whatever rights they have over the value of the improvements had to be forfeited. Therefore, the city has the authority to take over the market as as authorized by Ordinance No. 3796. At a dialogue with about 150 vendors yesterday, Lim authorized the vendors to sell their wares at the market. But instead of the the P90 per day fee that the NAEDC had been imposing on them, the vendors will only pay P30 per day. “Your work is valuable to us," Lim told the vendors in Filipino. "That's why I did what will make your work lighter. I don't want taking advantage of you, pretending to help but actually just using you." The mayor advised the vendors to divide among themselves whatever utility and maintenance expenses they may incur in running the market. Lim ordered the city electrician, Ernesto Cuyugan, to assist the newly installed New Antipolo Public Market Vendors' Association apply for a new Meralco meter connection. - GMANews.TV