"THE people walking in darkness have seen a great light; on those living in the land of deep darkness a light has dawned." Isaiah 9:2
When people of vision have shared the vision to others who will likewise share the vision to others shares the light that illuminates the world towards a future of hope.
Public consultations have been conducted on the proposed ordinance entitled "An Ordinance Known as the Pacdal-Gibraltar District Satellite Market Ordinance of 2019 providing for the Construction, Appropriation and Adjudication of the Stalls."
Similarly, this has been read in the City Council and it is now on its second reading for publication.
Last week, I received a petition entitled "Reconsideration Of The Plan To Construct A Building For A Centralized Satellite Market For District 1 And 11 Of The City Of Baguio And The Relocation Of All Satellite Vendors (New And Old) Therein" from the District 1 and 11 Satellite Market vendors Association Inc. signed by 49 members with addresses from Happy Hallow, Imelda Village, Dontogan, Asin Road, Outlook Drive, Lucnab, Gibraltar, Ambuklao, Lualhati, San Carlos Heights, Navy Base, Itogon, Pacdal and Ambiong together with at least 575 customers and friends from various locations.
We already conducted at least seven public consultations and the response to the ordinance was overwhelmingly supportive of the establishment of satellite markets.
The problem of decongesting the central business district area has become beyond bounds and we need to do something by decongesting also the market by setting up the satellite markets.
I appeal to the good sense, fairness and cooperative spirit of our people, please join us in a vision to make a better Baguio by improving the market facilities of our city.
The satellite market was started way back in 2006 yet after 14 years we still have not attained what we envisioned a satellite market should be a replica of our city market which has a complete line of goods and services that cater to the people in the barangays where it is located and thus has not decongest our city market.
As soon as I sat as the chairperson of the SP committee on market, trade, commerce and agriculture I have been continually conducting consultations as I review pending resolutions and ordinances in my committee.
All I want to do is to serve our people and our city; I cannot do it alone as I need your help and your cooperation.
On the issues raised by the members, friends and customers of the District 1 and 11 satellite market vendors Association Inc. the proposed ordinance should have settled your fears but it did not and so it concerns me.
Similarly, it concerns me that the Gibraltar satellite market is not merely a satellite market but some stall owners have converted their stalls into living quarters for themselves or being rented out.
This was done without the necessary building permits. Further, some of these constructions have extended themselves beyond the water ways threatening safety of life and property. We have photos to document, and we encourage you to check it for yourself.
These acts continue to perpetuate a culture of lawlessness and acts without fear or obedience to authority.
The law maybe harsh but it is the law that governs public peace and order, environmental protection, building safety and the conduct of markets, trade and commerce.
I appeal to you to support the Modernized Satellite market at Gibraltar; this will be the first in the city of the six proposed satellite markets.
It hopes to correct the mistakes of the past of non-implementation of the law in the present satellite market.
The petitioners are misinformed by others and so it is time to correct the misinformation.
I appeal to the churches, the schools and barangay to enlighten our people and should they be able to organize a public hearing or a dialogue, we are very willing to come and explain to the people so that misinformation will stop.