The Vigan City government is considering legal action against the contractor of its wet market project due to alleged poor construction of the drainage system, which has reportedly caused daily hardships to fish vendors. 

The fish vendors reportedly have to deal with unsanitary and muddy conditions that worsen during the rainy season. 

The vendors were supposed to return to the market’s renovated wet section after over a year but the project was recalled because it needed to be redone.

"Nabanggit ng mga engineers na hindi nasunod yung original na program of work. ‘Yung layout ng pipe iniba nila kaya ang nangyari nagbabara ngayon… useless din kung pabalikin sila ngayon, maya’t-maya every day magbabara din, useless, kaya pinaulit lahat ni mayor,” Randy Singson, the vice mayor of Vigan City, said. 

Instead of using a straight and large pipe, the previous contractor reportedly installed a diverted pipe to create space for the vendors' styrofoam coolers.

"Malaking sakripisyo ito sa amin kasi matagal pa kami dito sa baba," Grace Flores, a fish vendor, said.

NEW CONTRACTOR

The city government has reassigned the project to a new contractor to fix the drainage issue.

The mayor also aims to recover the funds and hold the original contractor accountable.

"Nasa legal department na ngayon yung issue. Wala pa naman silang formal na suggestion kung ano yung legal action na pwede, pero ang gusto ni mayor [ay] panagutin yung original na contractor," Singson said.

In the meantime, Singson will propose to the city council the vendors' request to remove the daily P20 table fee, as they are using their personal tables for selling.

"Malaking ginhawa [ito], kasi malaking bagay din ang P600 pesos na ibinabayad namin kada buwan," Flores said.