DUE to complaints raised by vendors and market-goers, Quezon City Vice Mayor Joy Belmonte has formed a multi-sectoral group to improve the operation of the Galas public market and its planned renovation and upgrading of facilities.
The group will meet regularly to work on the issues raised during the “Talakayang Bayan” public forum last week and come up with recommendations and proposals, she said.
“Our only objective is to uplift the lives of our market vendors and bring in [physical] improvement of our market,” Belmonte said.
The newly formed held its first consultative meeting yesterday at the city hall’s Carlos Albert Hall.
The group is composed of representatives from the Galas Market Vendors Association, punong barangays of Area 22, Galas police station, and the city’s Market Development and Administration Department, Environmental Protection and Waste Management Department, Department of Public Order and Safety, Engineering Department, City Architect Department and Business Permit and Licensing Office.
According to Belmonte, the Office of the Vice Mayor and its legal team will serve as the facilitator.
“We have to protect the rights and ensure the financial and economic security of our market vendors that are paying rent,” she said.
Meanwhile, the Quezon City Council has granted a special use permits to a corporation allowing it to operate electronic game establishments in Barangay Holy Spirit and Barangay Tandang Sora.
City Resolutions 7331-2017 and 7334-2017, introduced by Councilor Ivy Xenia L. Lagman, said that Total Gamezone Xtreme, Inc. is being issued special permits to operate e-games establishments in Holy Spirit Drive and Visayas Avenue.
The issuance of the special permits is in accordance to Ordinance 2285-2014, pursuant to the provisions of Republic Act No. 7160, also known as the Local Government Code of 1991.
“The aforesaid business activities will provide employment to the residents and additional revenue to the city government, thereby boosting the city’s economy for the welfare of its inhabitants,” the resolution read.
Further, the issuance of the permit is subjected to the rules and regulations promulgated by the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp.
The authorization is also granted subject to conditions including: the establishment should only be for the playing of e-games; minors should be prohibited from playing e-games, and; the operator should remit to the City Treasurer a franchise fee of three percent of their gross revenue.