Cebu City markets post big earnings
— The city’s market authority reported a significant increase in earnings during the first five months of the year, surpassing last year’s figures by more than P2.5 million.
The Office of the City Markets (OCM) said it earned approximately P60,028,467.67 from January to May this year while in the same period last year it earned P57,461,629.10.
“Our market administrator remains hopeful that we will achieve our target income of P150 million for the year,” said OCM spokesman John Paul Amores on the “Bantay Merkado” teleradyo program broadcast over Sugboanon Channel.
Amores noted that the OCM’s earnings mainly came from parking ticket fees, market rentals, and penalties for violations of the city’s Market Code.
He credited the efficient collection system managed by the administrators and appraisers at the city’s public markets for the increase in revenue.
“I would like to thank our colleagues in the enforcement division and our appraisers for diligently performing their duties, which has contributed to the rise in our collections,” added Amores.
In addition to overseeing the Carbon Public Market and the Pasil Fish Market, the OCM also manages satellite markets in Barangay Pardo, Pasil, Cogon Ramos, T. Padilla, and Taboan.
The OCM has initiated the repair of the comfort rooms at the new Pasil Fish Market, partnering with the Cebu Market Vendors Multipurpose Cooperative for this project. The repairs are expected to be completed next month.
Additionally, the renovation of the third floor of the Pardo Public Market has been finished. The OCM is now inviting potential vendors to occupy the newly renovated space.
The third floor had suffered significant damage in the aftermath of Typhoon “Odette.”