Tabuk City, Kalinga – Amidst public queries and opposition, construction of the XRC mall and modernization of the Bulanao Public Market are expected to begin soon after its groundbreaking ceremony at around 7:00 AM on October 21.
The opposition against demolishing the public market for the XRC developer and suggestions for erecting the mall elsewhere in Tabuk were heard during the forum today at 10:00 AM, following the groundbreaking, but have not been considered.
The plan of the City LGU and XRC developers has been opposed by the Bulanao market group due to several issues and questions of legality as well as disadvantages. XRC will be leasing the 3.8 hectares more or less the government lot for 30 years, in which everything will be fully operated by the private developer.
During the press forum at Davidson Hotel on the same date, Tabuk City Information Officer Aurora Amilig informed that the groundbreaking ceremony was long overdue since it was postponed due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
Amilig recalled that the city was looking for investors even when the incumbent mayor of Tabuk was still then the vice mayor. She added there were two who signified their interest, Primark and the XRC mall and that after going through the process, it was the latter who got the project.
Meantime, during the said forum, among those who raised questions during the event was Atty. Errol Comafay, the legal counsel of the Bulanao Public Market Stall Owners and Vendors and Consumers Association.
Comafay who claimed during the Sangguniang Palungsod session last week that the contract of lease between the City of Tabuk and XRC Mall Developer is illegal fired question regarding the contract of lease, why the city government assumes the payment of real property taxes that should be paid by XRC despite condition laid down in the resolution passed by the SP.
Meanwhile, members of the Bulanao Public Market Stall Owners and Vendors and Consumers Association after a prayer led by the Kalinga Apayao Religious Sector Association, Inc. walked peacefully towards Davidson Hotel with their banners stating their opposition to the demolition of the Bulanao Public Market in favor of the private developer.
The group stayed a few meters away from the hotel as they were not allowed to move closer to the area during the event.
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