Councilors to inspect Mines View satellite market

COUNCILORS in their regular session Monday decided to conduct an ocular inspection on September 24 at the unoccupied new Mines View satellite market. This is to finally settle issues with vendors who will occupy the building.

This after the P58-million satellite market building remains empty after negotiations for a reasonable monthly rental have not prospered between vendors and the City Government of Baguio.

The City Council has yet to decide on the request of the executive department to finally implement the rates, which according to the Local Finance Committee, have been reduced by as much as 50 percent.

The Local Finance Committee also added it would not be feasible anymore to bring down rentals citing that the city will have a hard time recouping expenses in the construction of the building.

The council, however, remained divided on the issue with some members of the council heeding calls of vendors to further lower the fees.

But Councilor Betty Lourdes Tabanda backed the opinion of the Local Finance Committee saying: “I would recommend the fees endorsed by the Local Finance Committee to be implemented now pero kung gusto ng iba na mamulitika na lang by consenting the vendors we might as well give these stalls for free.”

Tabanda told her fellow councilors to implement the reduced monthly rent recommended by the Local Finance Committee in an experimental basis for a year.

She added that from the initial P5,000 per month, rates were already reduced to P3,000 a month.

She stressed although she is cognizant of the situation of vendors, especially during the lean months, the City Government has to implement these rates.

Delays in the occupation of the Mines View Satellite Market resulted to delays in the City Government’s projected revenues from the building.

Councilor Perlita Chan-Rondez, chair of committee on Market, Trade, and Commerce, also expressed her disappointment over her colleagues’ failure to approve the already reduced rates.

This also resulted to the failure of stall owners at Mines View Park to occupy the building where they are supposed to be relocated to pave way for the rehabilitation of the park.

The City Government set aside P4 million for the rehabilitation of Mines View Park which was stripped off its status as a park and a tourist destination in recent years due to the crowding of vendors and the deterioration of its facilities and attractions.