On Higalaay Market Festival issue: Comments were based on lack of information - Cabanlas

“THE (negative) report (on the establishment of the Higalaay Festival Market at the Rio de Oro Boulevard) started with the wrong premise and the comments were based on lack of information. So, I think, everybody is guilty.”

Thus, stressed Councilor Edgar S. Cabanlas during the 87th regular session of the 20th City Council, presided over by City Vice Mayor Bebot Rodriguez, as a rejoinder to the special report of Councilor Romeo V. Calizo about the recent controversy on the high-end open food market at the Rio de Oro Boulevard.

It may be recalled that the City Council Committee on Ways and Means chaired by Councilor George S. Goking tackled the proposed Higalaay Food Market event at on the said boulevard, after Councilor Roger Abaday reported the complaint regarding the ₱50,000 stall rental fee.

The Gavel learned that the controversial ₱50,000 fee per stall will be charged by the organizers of the event for operational expenses that include security, tents, janitorial services, power and water, and the general management of the event.

According to Councilor Cabanlas, his reaction to the controversy sprang from the presumption that the entire boulevard will be used for the purpose.

“That was my wrong presumption, because the reality is that only a portion of that entire span of the boulevard will be used,” he stressed.

On the allegation that lowly vendors will not be accommodated, Councilor Cabanlas informed that everybody can do business on the boulevard during the fiesta (subject to the guidelines and regulations imposed by City Hall).

“There’s nothing wrong with choice as long as everyone’s given the choice. Naa man sila tanan, kompleto man. We can eat street food bisan katong diha sa Cogon Market,” he added.

‘A PRODUCT OF CONCERN’

Councilor Cabanlas said he is not blaming Councilor Abaday for rendering the said special report during last week’s regular session, emphasizing that it was merely a “product of concern”.

“The presumption was the entire boulevard will be available only for the rich, that was the reaction, but wrong reaction. But that was perhaps the basis why we have a lot of negative comments in the social media,” Cabanlas pointed out.

With this, the legislative body interposed no objection to the establishment of the Higalaay Food Park and urged the organizers and the City Tourism Office to reconsider and proceed with the original plan for the said activity.