Monday, April 21, 2008 Mayor to market vendors: Rehab done in 3 months
IT MAY take some time but at least the 56 stallholders of the burnt sari-sari section of the Baguio City market are assured that government will take care of everything.
Mayor Reinaldo Bautista Jr. promised that the reconstruction of the sari-sari section will be shouldered by the city. This is to ensure the safety and health of the holders as well as their clients.
The hitch is it will take government 90 days, or three months, to do the makeover of the burned down market section.
However, the mayor vowed the current stallholders will not be displaced after the reconstruction. The 56 affected stallholders have been allotted temporary stalls at the center aisle of the market and at the sidewalk facing the old Tiong San Bazaar.
To ensure the safety of marketgoers, Bautista ordered the cordoning of the entire block so no one can enter while construction is taking place.
Although the mayor failed to mention how much the city will spend for the reconstruction of the block, Baguio Market Plaza Cooperative Multipurpose (Bamapcom) manager Joseph Cacal said it may take P2 million just to put a roof over the burned skeleton of the building.
He likewise failed to say when construction will commence. This prompted Cacal to comment: "I am not optimistic about government being able to finish it within its own declared timeframe, which is 90 days, but I am hopeful [it] will be able to do so, so the victims may be able to get on their feet as soon as possible."
However, stallholders recognize that reconstruction will take some time because of government procedures involved. Their original proposal to bankroll the reconstruction was immediately rejected by Bautista.
"Government has enough funds for the reconstruction of the market and all we need is a little help from the stallholders like cordoning off the area," the mayor said in the April 17 meeting at City Hall.
"We are banking on the words of the mayor regarding the timeframe of the reconstruction and our accommodation, and we are thankful for the temporary spaces given to us to continue our business operations," Tessie Trinidad, one of the stallholders, said.
Although the court injunction stopping the City Government from touching major portions of the market, Bautista reiterated in the meeting that he still intends to do pursue development in areas untouched by the injunction.
The plans include the construction of an additional storey at the Billera Building, the development of blocks three and four, and the reconstruction of the burned area.
"This will be done as part of the overall development plan of the public market," Bautista said, adding "it is also in preparation of 2009 centennial celebration of the city's charter, so the city will have something new to show (to visitors)." (AR/GJ)
