Arlene Brosas urges Congressional probe into privatization of public markets 

Senatorial candidate Arlene Brosas on Wednesday said she would push for a Congressional investigation into the privatization of public markets. 

“Ang ayaw natin ay yung nahihirapan yung ating mga nagtitinda. Kasi nagbubunsod siya ng pagmahal ng stalls, pagliit ng stalls nang hindi sila nako-consulta kung ano talaga yung pinaka-best sa kanila. Ang pinaka-maigi talaga ay public, it will remain a public market,” she said in a press conference.

(We don’t want our vendors to suffer. Because privatization could lead to higher stall rents but smaller stalls, and without consulting them on what would be the best for them. It would be best if these markets remain public.) 

“Ang gusto natin sabihin dito, huwag naman ganid yung mga korporasyon. Ang ginagawa nila, tinatanggalan nila ng kabuhayan yung mga maliliit nating manininda, eh doon nabubuhay ang mga maliliit na manininda,” Brosas added.

(Our message is clear: corporations should not be greedy. They are actually depriving small vendors of their livelihoods.) 

Brosas, who is currently the representative of Gabriela Women’s Partylist at the House of Representatives, visited the Iloilo Central Market and Super/Terminal Market alongside three other senatorial candidates of Makabayan Coalition. 

The lawmaker made a manifestation in 2023 calling out the partnership between the Iloilo City local government unit and a conglomerate to redevelop the Iloilo Central Market and the Iloilo Terminal Market. 

Further, Brosas said that an investigation into the matter could still be pushed even while the Congress is on session break. 

“Ipu-push pa rin natin kasi hindi pa tapos yung Kongreso. Hangga’t kaya nating i-push na magkaroon ng imbestigasyon, magkaroon ng pagpapanagot dito, at magkaroon ng pag-imbita sa mga kinakailangan mag-resource person dito…makakapagsalita sila,” she said.

(We will still push for it because the current Congress is not yet over. We would want to hold someone accountable and invite resource persons to have the chance to speak up.) 

“At may opportunity pa rin tayo kasi sa susunod na after election, sa simula ng 20th Congress, pwede pa rin natin i-push…Magfa-file pa rin tayo ng imbestigasyon…Sana kung pinalad tayo ay sa Senado, ma-imbestigahan ang pangyayari na ito.” 

(We can still actually push for an investigation at the start of the 20th Congress…If I am fortunate to be elected to the Senate, I will also call for an investigation in the upper chamber.) — BM, GMA Integrated News

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