Baguio mulls permanency of stalls at Melvin Jones

THE Baguio City Government is eyeing the permanence of flower vendors as added attraction along Harrison Road.

Mayor Mauricio Domogan said the City Government wants flower vendors to stay along Harrison Road as long as they follow regulations and commit to keeping the area clean.

The mayor said the vendors beautify the plant boxes and provide pleasing views for tourists and residents wanting to see the park laden with assorted flowers grown in the region.

The city mayor said with the Panagbenga Festival and Valentine’s Day, vendors will enjoy brisk sales of flowers but asked for them to keep the area clean and the sidewalks free from obstructions.

He said the local government has been having difficulty maintaining various plant boxes along Harrison Road which is why the sight of flowers being sold in the area could provide additional livelihood as well as beautify the park.

Vendors comprising of 10 stall owners according to the mayor were formerly displaced at the back of the Dimalanta Building since they were occupying sidewalks recently cleared to organize the city public market.

The mayor tasked the City Engineer’s Office to come up with stall designs to beautify Burnham Park and accommodate flower vendors who will sell assorted blooms and on their own must maintain the area as part of the park’s beautification.

The Baguio City Market Authority will have a meeting on February 13 to discuss the fate of flower vendors.

“I think if flower vendors will occupy all the plant boxes along Melvin Jones that will be a way to beautify the park,” he said.

Park beautification, through the introduction of plant and flower vendors, is not new in the city. Plant boxes at Malcolm Square are also occupied by vendors selling ornamental plants and blooms but in return maintain the park garden.

Flower vendors, meanwhile, welcomed this suggestion from the city mayor adding they will no longer have to sell in prohibited areas and promised to clean the plant boxes.

Catalina Carbonell, one of the flower vendors, said they are willing to pay city dues as well as help the city beautify the plant boxes by displaying fresh blooms including roses, chrysanthemums, mums, daisies, fiji, alstromeria, anthuriums and orchids every day.

“Sana nga maging permanent kami dito at marami naman kami maitutulong gaya ng sa beautification pati na rin sa mga pasalubong na bulaklak ng mga turista at mga kailangan din ng taga dito sa Baguio,” Carmelita Baggayan, another vendor said.

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