Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

SEVE

TEENTH (17") CONGRESS
First Regular Session

House Bill N489"7

Introduced by: Representative Jose L. Atienza, Jr.

EXPLANATORY NOTE

The past few decades have seen a growing trend that has led to the disappearance of
traditional local public markets

More and more local government units (LGUs) have been entering into joint venture
agreements (JVA) with private corporations, with some even selling the public markets outright
which is tantamount to subverting public interests entirely to private control

An integral part of local governance is the operation of public markets to serve the needs
of the communities where they are located, The local public market has always been the first and
most convenient place to go to for fresh produce at affordable prices -- where one could haggle
for lower prices and even buy in small quantities or “tingi”. To privatize these markets would

result in higher costs of basic commodities, higher rental costs for stalls and displacement of
legitimate stallholders and vendors who have long been able to ply their wares at the public
market

This bill aims to prohibit the sale of local public markets to private develdpers and
operators and instead encourages LGUs to develop and expand existing public markfts and, if
needed, establish new ones in strategic areas, taking into account the number of inhabifants to be
served.



Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES,
Quezon City

SEVENTEENTH (17) CONGRESS
First Regular Session

4897

No.

House

Introduced by: Representative Jose L. Atienza, Jr

AN ACT PROTECTING LOCAL PUBLIC MARKETS

Be it enacted by the Senate and the House of Representatives of the Philippines in the
Congress assembled:

Section 1. Prohibition to Sell Public Markets. ~ All local government units are
henceforth prohibited from selling its existing public markets to private market operators, private
developers, and/or to any other private party, or to enter into any joint venture or any other
arrangements with the latter over the operation or development of those markets or for any other
purpose, provided that when a law or public order, publie safety or public convenience demands
that those public markets be devoted for purposes than as such, then new ones should be built or
established to replace those that have ceased to operate within a period of two (2) years from
such cessation of operation;

Section 2. Development and Expansion of Existing Public Markets. - All local
government units are hereby mandated to develop and improve existing public markets and to
establish new ones in strategic areas taking into account the number of inhabitants to be served
by such facilities in the particular communities, Immediately upon the effectivity of this act, all
local government units must conduct thorough study and evaluation of their existing public
markets vis-a-vis the needs of the residents of the locality, and if warranted, to act accordingly by
embarking into development and expansion of existing public markets and the establishment of
new ones:

Section 3. Penalty Clause, ~ Public officers and employees committing any violation
of this Act shall be punished by imprisonment of three (3) to five (5) years, without prejudice
their prosecution under the provisions of other existing laws.


Section 4. Separability Clause, ~ In the event that any of the provision of this Act is
declared unconstitutional, the remaining provisions which have not been affected by such
declaration shall remain valid and effective;

rules

Section 5. Repealing Clause. ~ All laws, decrees, executive orders, circular
and regulations and other issuances or parts thereof that are inconsistent with the provisions of
the Act is deemed repealed, amended or modified.

Section 6. Effectivity Clause. ~ This Act shall take effect after fifteen (15) days
following its complete publication in at least two (2) newspapers of general circulation,

Approved.