City not overspending in maintenance of

tourist-oriented establishments in town

ZAMBOANGA CITY, (ZNS)- City Administrator Antonio Orendain Jr, has explained that the city government is not overspending in the maintenance of its economic enterprises which is said are there for tourism purposes.

“We have to qualify what do you mean by over spending, “ said Orendain when questioned about why the city government is spending millions of pesos to maintain these facilities.

Some in the city council has dared question why the city is spending “so much money” to maintain Paseo del Mar,Plaza del Pilar , Sta. Cruz Island to include the Jardin de Maria Clara L. Lobregat .

In an interview, Orendain admitted that while the city government is spending million’s of pesos for the maintenance of the above mentioned government facilities, it is because the city’s government is investing to promote the tourism in the city .

 “For tourism purposes  even we spend in return we get it back to promote  our tourism,” Orendain said adding that “ we are trying  to promote tourism .

He did not cite any official report enumerating the number of tourists who visited these facilities, particularly after the rebel attacked shoreline barangays near Plaza Pilar, Paseo del Mar last Septmber, 2013.

Visits to Sta. Cruz island were also curtailed during the period of the attack and months thereafter.

Orendain said it is not easy to maintain these facilities because the city has to pay for the salaries of workers employed in these establishments.

He explained that for three public comfort rooms, the city employs six personnel in three shifts. They also have to keep the surroundings clean.

The employees work there up to 12:00 o’clock midnight.

He said that as far as the city council is concerned, the city administrators office has not received a single complaint from establishment owners that they are not earning. He said the owners are happy at the rental they are paying for the uses of business stalls in these three establishments.

“They are happy with the price,” Orendain said .The Paseo de Mar has  16 stalls  who continue to serve  and  operate for the past three years .

Some city councilors have called for the amendment of the ordinances governing the operation of these three economic enterprises of the city government.\

The city councilors said stall occupants claim that there are not earning money in these establishments. They also complained about the high rental rates of up to P14,000 per months.

In other development, Orendain  admitted that  11 out of the total occupants of 56 stalls at the Plaza del Pilar  voluntarily give up their business .

Orendain said this 11  occupants  give up for  some reasons or the other coming  from the five groupings  of pasalubong, candles, offices,  carenderia and take out counters doing business a the Plaza.

Orendain said that the stalls in Plaza del Pilar is only incidental in the promotion of tourism . (Letty M. Militante) (080514)