Market’s Block IV to be opened soon

NEWLY renovated Block 4 of the Baguio public market will be inaugurated today, Friday, after several months of rehabilitation conducted by the City Government.

More than 300 stalls will be occupied by vendors in an open vending situation for livestock, ready-to-wear, sari-sari store products, fruits and vegetables.

Mayor Mauricio Domogan said they have to finish first the asphalt overlay on the road surrounding the newly improved section of the public market.

He said once this is done, they have to secure the surrounding areas of the public market to prevent sidewalk vendors from occupying the surrounding area as this often results in poor sales among legitimate stall owners.

Learning from the experience in the market’s Block 3 section, he said the paved road should be used for parking and other market operations and not for sidewalk vendors to occupy.

Last year, the Baguio City Market Authority conducted screening of qualified vendors to lease out portions of the newly renovated Block 4.

Among the requirements include that vendors should be permanent residents of the city and included in the census of actual occupants with permits conducted by the Baguio City Market Authority.

Second in priority in the selection vendors are those whose names are listed in the census and are paying their dues to the city, third priority are those who are in the census but were not paying rent while new applicants are the last priority of the selection committee.

The City Council last June approved an additional P10,562,347 million budget in addition to an earlier appropriated P18 million for the rehabilitation of the public market’s Block 4.

The mayor said this additional appropriation is separate from the earlier P18 million awarded to contractor Tryst Builders to construct an open-air market similar to the design of Block 3 to accommodate more than 400 stalls.

Among the main reasons for the rehabilitation of Block 3 which was completed last year and Block 4 are violations of the Fire Code of the Philippines and the National Building Code.

Other sections of the public market categorized by the Baguio Fire Department as fire hazards include the Rillera and the Old Magsaysay Building and are still on the drawing board.

The City Government is serious in its efforts of developing the Baguio public market after reaching an understanding with Uniwide, winning bidder of a Design-Build-Lease contract for 30 years, for the city to improve the market while the winning bidder finalizes its plans for the public market.

The Court of Appeals recently affirmed a 2008 decision of Regional Trial Court Judge Illuminada Cabatu declaring the validity of the contract signed by the city and Uniwide to develop the Baguio Public Market. (JM Agreda)