Barangay officials oppose fencing of Pasil Fish Market

CEBU, Philippines — More issues and considerations were brought up before the Cebu City Council during the discussion of the proposal to fence off the Pasil Fish Market, which also drew opposition from the barangay officials of the nearby residential area.

The council held an executive session yesterday to discuss a plan to install a perimeter fence around the vicinity of the fish market.

Before the discussion began, Councilor Jocelyn Pesquera pointed out the importance of properly presenting the plans to ensure it would not conflict with the tourism visions outlined for the area, as well as the daily operations of the market itself.

Engr. Maria Lilibeth del Mar, head of the Planning and Design Division of the Department of Engineering and Public Works (DEPW), presented a list of justifications that prompted the need to install a perimeter fence.

According to her, the budgetary appropriations will be charged against the 20 percent Local Development Fund (LDF) of the 2022 calendar year.

For this project, the appropriation is estimated to be about P10 million.

The project has already undergone a bidding process and it was awarded to the Aloha Builders.

The fence will have a dimension of 2.3-meter high from the ground and six meters wide. It will include three gates.

Among the reasons Del Mar cited is that the perimeter fence will serve as a property security, acting as the first line of defense and preventing unauthorized entry.

She said there have been some reported theft incidents in the area where vendors complained of losing  their belongings due to unauthorized entries.

Del Mar also noted that the market is an open space, making it vulnerable to intruders.

She added that the perimeter fence will allow market administrators to monitor and control who comes in and out of the market.

Del Mar said  the Pasil Market is also surrounded by residential communities of Sawang Calero at the back portion, some residents passed through the market.

Pesquera, however, said that the proposed width is not compatible for trucks to access and maneuver.

Acting Market Administrator Krizel Lazarte said that upon assuming office, the first thing she noticed was the poor sanitation of the Pasil Market.

“It is very dirty and then there are a lot of people coming in and out. I was really asking, nganong wala man ni siya koral?” Lazarte said.

Although it is a public market, she said it is also a central hub for fish trading commonly known as “bagsakan.”

She also observed that there are a number of illegal settlers at night.

Pending the installation of the fence, she said they are implementing an ID (identification) scheme for laborers to regulate who enters and exits the market.

To ensure that entries are regulated, they also conducted profiling among those authorized to enter.

“I am pleading that this will be approved,” said Lazarte.

Pesquera, however, reiterated that fencing off a market—which is an open space—will limit accessibility for delivery trucks, which are essential to market operations.

She added that it could further hinder tourism arrivals due to the reduced space.

“Unless naa moy other area nga didto ninyo padungguon,” said Pesquera, recommending that there should be an alternative docking area for the traders.

Barangay Secretary Abella Ledezma, who has been working in the barangay for 11 years, said it was only during the council session that they were able to see the proposed fencing plan for the Pasil Market.

According to her, the area where the proposed Gate Three will be constructed is already quite narrow.

She explained that Blocks 1 to 3 near the area are fire-prone.

“Ug ang kana dira nga space og pananglitan masunog, simbako lang, diha sa block three, dira sila mu tapon kanang space diha (proposed gate three),” said Ledezma.

“Sa amo lang, dili mayo nga i-koral dira, sa amoa lang nga side sa barangay,” she added.

Ledezma also said that in times of fire, residents would have to pass through the other gate to seek shelter in the Pasil Market.

She suggested that, if the market administration is trying to address theft incidents, it should instead strengthen the building’s security.

At the end of the discussion, Pesquera emphasized that the City's plans and projects should be more sustainable and forward-thinking. (CEBU NEWS)