Monday, October 09, 2006 City, vendors urged to settle market row By Rimaliza Opiña
THE City Government should now take a decisive action regarding the unresolved case involving the long-delayed development of the public market.
This developed as Regional Trial Court (RTC) Branch 59 Presiding Judge Iluminada Cabato ordered the city to submit a position paper over the possibility of entering into a mediation scheme with four market groups.
Acting Vice Mayor Leandro Yangot Jr. urged Acting Mayor Reinaldo Bautista Jr. to take on a decisive action regarding the matter.
Stressing that the pending cases filed by Peter Sagayo et al, the Baguio Market Vendors Association (BMVA), Lilia Calicdan et al and Leonora Guinid, practically put on hold any development in the public market, Yangot said the mediation could be the best solution for the city and all parties involved.
He reiterated that continuing on with the case would only result in further deterioration of the market that is considered as one of Baguio's show windows.
Mediation is part of the judicial reform system of the country, which is intended to unclog the courts of cases.
Falling under the "Alternative Dispute Resolution" program, mediation advocates a conciliatory approach in the resolution of cases.
Mediation was the solution earlier suggested by Councilor Daniel Fariñas, chairman of the City Council committee on market, trade and commerce, following the snag brought about by the case.
Early into his administration, suspended Mayor Braulio Yaranon also thought of entering into mediation but the plan was not pursued following observation that the market's developer -- Uniwide Sales Realty -- no longer has the financial capability to proceed with the development.
Yaranon then said he would just wait for the court's decision.
With minor developments introduced so as not to prejudice the result of the case, the City Government focused mainly on stopping illegal peddling as well as the survey of legal, illegal vendors, lessors and sublessors at the public market.
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