ILOILO City — Mayor Raisa Treñas denied allegations that the city government is funding online trolls to defend its clearing operations against bolantero vendors, insisting that the surge of supportive comments on social media is “organic” and driven by market vendors themselves benefiting from reforms.
The mayor issued the denial following observations of increased positive engagement online backing the enforcement actions led by the Local Economic Enterprise Office (LEEO), amid claims that suspicious accounts were amplifying support for the city.
“I’m confident nga indi ina kami (we are not behind that),” Treñas said when asked about claims that suspicious accounts were defending the city government online.
Treñas stressed that those defending the city are not paid individuals but actual vendors who have seen improvements under the new system.
“The vendors themselves. You have to go inside the market,” she said. “Hambal gani nila, ‘Mayor, kami da ga-banát sa page.’”
She challenged critics and members of the media to directly engage with vendors inside public markets instead of relying on online impressions.
“Na-interview ninyo bala ang sulod? Ang dapat ninyo interview-hon amo ang mga ara sa sulod sang merkado,” she added.
The mayor explained that the clearing operations are part of broader efforts to organize markets and ensure fairness, aligned with standard market codes implemented nationwide.
“We really make sure nga everyone who was there before the rehabilitation, tanan nga nakabalik,” she said, referring to vendors affected by market redevelopment.
Treñas emphasized that the city has rolled out measures to support vendors, including designated selling spaces, clear guidelines on stall sizes, and the implementation of “market day” schedules.
“May ara kita market day nga gin-ubra para sa tanan,” she noted.
According to Treñas, some vendors have reported significantly higher earnings under the reorganized system.
“I got the news from one of the bolanteros — now, they can sell up to P70,000 a day. Sang una, kun diin-diin lang sila, pila lang ila mabaligya; mas happy sila subong,” she said.
She also shared feedback from vendors during consultations, including emotional reactions to the city’s support.
“Kita ko ang president daw mahibi — ‘Swerte kamo, palangga kamo ni mayor. Ang amon, ginahatag pa namon sa inyo bisan indi kamo taga-syudad,’” Treñas recounted.
Amid criticism, Treñas reiterated that compliance with regulations remains essential to maintain order and fairness in public markets.
“We have to follow the rules,” she said. “Nga ga-follow sila sa iban nga banwa, kag diri sa syudad indi pwede?”
She maintained that the city’s policies aim to strike a balance between sustaining livelihoods and ensuring proper market management, urging that public discourse be grounded in the realities faced by vendors rather than assumptions about online activity./PN
