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Right in front of the city hall are stalls where vendors peddle relief goods like shirts, pants and the like. These items are popularly known as ukay-ukay.
There are also stalls selling VCDs, DVDs and similar merchandise.
The set up is part of the preparation for the upcoming Sandugo celebration.
Remember, July is Sandugo month.

Regular texters of Cuentas Claras over DYTR are complaining.
Why are the sellers allowed to sell when they are peddling pirated VCDs and DVDs?
If fish vendors who are selling legitimate items are being chased around by police authorities, why are the vendors selling pirated VCDs and DVDs allowed to sell and issued business permits?
We called up Mario Uy, “deputy mayor” of Tagbilaran and he explained it this way.
He said it is not for him or for city authorities to decide whether the items sold are pirated or not. That is up to Mr. Edu Manzano of the Video Regulatory Board, he stressed.
Ha, ha, never mind, continue reading.
He said the idea of allowing these vendors is consistent with Mayor Dan Neri Lim’s pronouncement that lotto is for the rich, swertres is for the poor.
Many Tagbilaranons could not afford to buy brand new clothes. So these relief goods (ukay-ukay) are the answer to their needs. Because they are within the reach of the poor Tagbilaranons.
When I asked if they require the VCD or DVD vendors to show their respective permits from the Videogram Board, the so-called credentials, Mario Uy said they did not require them to show their permits.
So that explains.
Mario Uy is not really interested in the credentials of the vendors. For as long as they pay the required fees, then they can sell. Never mind what they are selling.


This makes the job of Edu Manzano terribly frustrating.
Everybody knows the VCDs and DVDs sold here and there are pirated. One look at the wrapper or the quality of the printing or label marks and one easily gets the impression that they are not the originals.
And the vendors are honest enough to admit that they are not selling the originals.
But the recording is good, their assurance. They even promise reimbursement or change of item if there are defects.
And for the poor consumers, that assurance is enough. The transaction is sealed when the consumer pays and the vendor delivers the VCD or DVD.
Why go for the original (which is doubly expensive) when a duplicate copy or pirated copy is readily available (at a very low price, pirated price so to speak). And they show almost the same quality picture on screen.
Why indeed?
The thing is – somebody sweated it out and invested substantial amount of time and money just to produce a quality VCD or DVD. On top of that are taxes and fees levied by the government for the item. Plus the copyright fees. Thereafter, they are sold to the market.
Here come the enterprising ones with their duplicating or copying machines. They buy one original VCD or DVD and make several thousand copies.
They are sold to the market at less than half the price of the original.
The result, nobody or very few buys the original and a lot will buy the duplicate or pirated copy.
So, who losses and who profits stupendously from the labor and sweat of others?


Anywhere you go, there are endless stalls selling pirated DVDs or VCDs.
Along sidewalks, and even inside big malls and department stores, these stalls are selling items like hot cake.
Every now and then, Edu Manzano conducts raids, the pirated VCDs or DVDs are seized and their owners charged accordingly.
But few days after the raid, business is back. And the cycle continues.
But who can blame the poor consumer if he prefers to buy a pirated
copy?
The original is terribly expensive.


So those who are complaining about the presence of stalls selling pirated VCDs or DVDs in front of the city hall, weep.
Mario Uy doesn’t mind if the items sold are pirated or original. For as long as they pay the required fees, then it’s A-ok.
Where the money goes?
It’s not going to the city, he said. The proceeds will go to the Sandugo Foundation.
Presumably, it’s not the city treasurer’s office that collects. It’s possible that Mario Uy or his subaltern is the one collecting.
And by the way, if Edu Manzano complains that he is losing the war against piracy, you know the answer to that.


Meanwhile, Olympic rules say that the flag-bearer will have to be a duly accredited member of the delegation.
But GMA does not like that. She wants her new ambassador to hold the Philippine Flag during the opening ceremony of the Beijing Olympics.
Can it be done?
Gagawan natin ng paraan, Ma’am, Olympic Committee chair Peping Cojuangco says.
So even if Manny Pacquiao is not a member of the Olympic committee, and GMA knows that, somebody must have to find a way to please her.
Never mind if the Philippine Olympic Committee has long designated Fil-American swimming sensation Miguel Molina as flag-bearer.
Luoy pod ang mawani!


Meanwhile, a lot of people may not like City Mayor Dan Neri Lim. Hambogero, Mr. Know It All and other brickbats are thrown at him in a regular manner.
But you’ve got to hand it to him.
He delivers.
And no less than the Asian Institute of Management (AIM) recognizes this when the latest AIM survey shows Tagbilaran topping small-sized cities all over the Philippines when it comes to offering the best quality of life.
Alongside Tagbilaran are Makati in metro city and Cabanatuan in mid-size city categories.
First time to happen in the city’s history. And not just once but a repeat performance at that!
Poll results show that Tagbilaran got a rating of 7.97 while Cabanatuan got 7.17 from the highest rating of 10.
The average rating in their city sizes is 6.31 and 6.43, respectively.
Makati ranked second among metro cities, with a rating of 6.98. The average rating of metro cities in terms of quality of life is 6.06.
What was the basis for the high scores for Tagbilaran?
AIM sources noted that Tagbilaran has low or non-existent informal fees, good supply of water, and low water rates. AIM also praised the city environmental planning and management program.
Kudos to Mayor Dan Neri Lim and Vice Mayor Toto Veloso. More when we return, stay tuned for more. Comments, suggestions, write to salvadiputado@yahoo.com.