QUEZON CITY, Sept. 17 (PIA)— Quezon City Mayor Herbert Bautista summoned all private market owners to City Hall on Friday to make sure they will comply with the provisions of the QC Market Code and other laws and regulations pertinent to market operations.
Owners of big private markets in Quezon City were given 90 days to comply with all regulatory requirements of the national and local governments or face closure.
During the meeting, market owners were given 90 days to secure the necessary permits and clearances and undertake repair and renovation of defective or deficient facilities. Failure to comply with the requirements entails possible closure of the establishment. All of the 30 private markets have been inspected by the city’s Environmental Protection and Waste Management Department (EPWMD), City Health Department, City Building Official and the Market Development and Administration Department (MDAD). The inspections were conducted from February to August.
Super Palengke in Proj. 8 and the Arayat market in Cubao are the only two of the 30 private markets in Quezon City that have complied with the necessary regulatory requirements. Based on the inspection report, provisions of the building, sanitation, environmental and zoning standards prescribed by both local and national governments are commonly violated. Market administrator Noel Soliven said the number of private markets participating in Friday’s follow up dialogue does not include the eight private markets operating in the Balintawak area as their owners have already signified their intention to retrofit and renovate their facilities.
Earlier, the Mayor has given private market owners and operators until December to comply with all the regulatory requirements legitimizing market operations The Mayor gave the order after the City Health Department reported that majority of the private markets in the city are operating without the necessary regulatory permits and certificates, such as health and sanitation permits, business permits, environmental clearances and discharge permits, which are either issued by the QC government, Laguna Lake Development Authority (LLDA) and the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR).
According to the Mayor, the city’s move is not intended to encourage market owners to close shop, but rather, encourage them to improve their businesses. “We just want them to (market owners) feel that we are serious in helping them improve their businesses,” the Mayor said. (PAISO QC/RJB/SDL/PIA-NCR)
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