Several vendors at a public market in General Santos City staged a protest after the local government began relocating them to make way for the construction of a “mallengke.”

Vendors aired their grievances during a rally in Barangay Dadiangas South, saying the move needs proper consultation and that the 50-year-old public market needs to be preserved.

The protest came after the local government informed them that they would begin transferring as part of the timeline for the construction of the P2.3 billion three-story “mallengke” project, which is scheduled to begin in 2027.

Some vendors said they should be provided with a proper relocation site before being moved.

“Unta tagaan mi relocation site kung outright silang magpabalhin dapat i-agi sa og due process kay dili lalim,” a vendor, Felixberta Fajardo, said.

According to the General Santos City Legal Office, a relocation site has already been prepared for the more than 1,000 vendors affected.

“As a matter of fact, noong Sabado ata nagsimula na ang Phase 1 ng construction ng relocation site, so may Phase 2,3, and 4. ..nasa gilid, kasi ang compound mismo ng public market doon itatayo ang mallengke, so nasa gilid sila,” City Legal officer, Atty. Francisco Gacal, said.

The local government explained that the current relocation site occupied by other vendors serves as an emergency relocation area, which was established after a portion of the public market was damaged by the magnitude 7.8 earthquake.

Regarding the vendors’ call for proper consultation, the local government said this has already been conducted.

“Meron. Di totoo na walang consultation seguro di sila nag-aattend katulad nung pinaka unang consultation like last year,” Gacal added.

Meanwhile, some officials and other personalities in the city have also expressed opposition to the construction of the proposed “mallengke,” saying that cleanliness in the current public market is the only issue that needs to be addressed.

“Kalinisan lamang na dapat tugunan ng gobyerno at magtulungan ang bawat vendors bawat stakeholders upang mapaganda natin ang ating palengke,” Vice Mayor Jose Edmar Yumang said.

PROJECT

The proposed “mallengke” is a public-private partnership (PPP) project that was first discussed two years ago. Under the agreement, a private corporation will construct the building while the local government will provide the land.

Based on the lease contract, ownership of the building will be turned over to the local government after the 25-year lease period.

The local government maintained that the project is ready to proceed now that a contract has already been signed.

“Galing sa kontrata yan eh…napirmahan na as a matter of fact before nagkapirmahan meron narin siyang Sangguniang resolution, a resolution authorizing city mayor to sign a contract,” Gacal said.