Tabuk City, Kalinga –In their continuous pursuit to have their sentiments heard, members of the Bulanao Public Market Stall Owners and Vendors and Consumers Association held a ‘peaceful walk’ on October 20, a day before the reported groundbreaking ceremony for the XRC mall construction inside the public market.
At 6:00AM on said day, members of the said association whose fear is losing their livelihood walked peacefully with their banners around the vicinity of the Bulanao Public Market and dispersed with a prayer.
Jamillah Sallidao, one of the officers of the organization mentioned that they held the peaceful walk as a way to speak and air their side on the demolition of the Bulanao Public Market for its replacement with mall and new and modern Bulanao Public Market under XRC Mall Developer.
“Nagna kami lang, we did not shout. We maintained diay social distancing mi. Nagna kami lang with of course, diay banner mi,” she explained.
“Wag naman sanang ipagkait sa amin ‘yun and we believe na hindi rally ‘yun. It is a walk for a cause. We want met a dagijay haan a taga market makita da met, marikna da met, mabasa da met, uray mabasa da laeng iti rikriknaen mi a taga market,” she added.
It could be recalled that Atty. Errol Comafay Jr., legal counsel of the Bulanao Public Market Stall Owners and Vendors and Consumers Association during the SP Tabuk session last October 14, argued that the contract of lease between the City of Tabuk and XRC Mall Developer is illegal.
Moreover, on the same day, the SP members moved to invite key officials from the executive department of Tabuk and the XRC Mall Developer Inc. to shed light on the queries raised regarding the unloaded materials at the Bulanao Public Market which believed to be for pre-construction phase of the mall.
Lastly, due to the rumors circulating that a groundbreaking ceremony for the project will be held this October 21, the Kalinga Apayao Religious Sector Association, Inc. through a letter asked Mayor Darwin Estranero and the Sangguniang Panlungsod to put on hold the activity if true until queries have been addressed.
.png)
