The Rosario market Vendors Association joined in by all sectors met to plan on strategies regarding the impending eviction and demolition order served them by the Office of the Mayor in Rosario, la Union. Association President Leonard Ligpit led the group to the October 17-18, 2010 prayer rally in front of the municipal hall and the nightly vigil in their respective stalls and stores.

 Rosario, La Union. About 540 members of the Rosario market Vendors Association protested and went on a stand-off vigil inside their respective stalls and stores last October 17, 2010. A prayer rally was also held that day and the next day, October 18, 2010 in front of the municipal hall. Everynight after the first vigil, the vendors and supporters continued to do so hoping to avert the demolition.They were protesting what they call the “unfair eviction” delivered to them as issued by the Office of the Mayor. The protest stemmed from the fact that a new building was erected to serve as the new market space. And that the vendors of different sectors from the rice section to the fish and meat and all are ordered to vacate the old building and occupy the new one. This would now entail every vendor to pay a grace money and a monthly rental of P3,000 for a 2mx3m area of selling space.  The package also includes a yearly increase.

       The vendors’ plea as voiced by their association president Mr. Leonard Ligpit is for them to stay at the old building as the new one costs too much, something that the vendors cannot afford to pay in the long run. The meager amount the vendors take home everyday are not even enough to sustain a big family, how much more to pay additional cost for a very small space in the new market. Aside from this one fact, the vendors claim they were not given an opportunity to voice out their opinions prior to the construction of the new building. For matters like this, a public consultation is needed taking into consideration that some of the affected vendors have legal contracts of lease on the old building and are still enforceable until 2011. There was not any dissolution of the contracts yet nor were they consulted on the issue at hand.

       Another matter to be considered is the fact that the number of vendors/tenants from the old building cannot all be accommodated in the new building. Ligpit laments on this fact, “where will the others go?”. Our protest, or the mere existence of the problem will also affect the people of the municipality as a whole.

       The issues in question are numerous, something they ask to be considered by the Office of the Mayor. Until these are resolved they ask reprieve to be able to remain in the old market building and conduct their daily normal businesses. As of October 22, 2010 a hearing on the case was held at the Regional Trial Court of Agoo, La union.