BAGUIO CITY – In response to approved city council resolution 74, series of 2017, a market, trade and commerce summit was conducted March 3 at the Benguet Electric Cooperative (BENECO) Hall along South Drive road.
The move is seen to make “the Baguio City Market as the summer capitals’ main tourist attraction that is safe, drug and crime-free, clean and orderly…through and inter-agency and concerned stakeholders efforts…” the resolution states.
The stakeholders’ concerns were then threshed out with focus on short, medium and long term plans and action from the concerned agencies.
Participants are those from Blocks III and IV; 1st, 2nd, 3rd Kayang streets; Hangar and Hilltop market; flower, vegetable, rice, fruit, wagwagan, carinderia, fish and meat sections; roving vendors; barangay satellite markets, slaughterhouse auction area, night market, Mines View, proprietors of bicycles at Burnham Park and barangay officials.
Porters from Hangar, rabbit-Magsaysay area, Dangwa, Hilltop, rice and flower shop section, and Lakandula; and members of the Public Safety and Order Division (POSD) were also represented.
Council committee chair on Market, Trade, Commerce and Agriculture Leandro Yangot, Jr., gave the rationale and background of the summit, with an inspirational message from Mayor Mauricio Domogan. Acting Market Superintendent Policarpio Tamayo gave a market situationer, followed by a trade and market situationer by Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) Regional Director Myrna Pablo.
Vendors during the later part of the summit admitted that with city support, bigger responsibilities are on their shoulders, with self-sufficiency, discipline and continuing education.
Recommendations culled from the problems as reported include; strict zoning implementation, the need for customers’ parking area, regular collection of properly segregated garbage, regular flushing and scheduled cleaners for the garbage disposal area, hiring of eco-aides, strict implementation of traffic rules and regulations, the no-littering ordinance, no urinating, and no spitting of momma were also focused on.
Assistance from the concerned government agencies was requested for the repair of canals, roofings, sewerages, drainages, and proper lighting facilities, clean comfort rooms, water supply, ventilation, market repainting, wash area in the livestock section of the slaughterhouse, pest control, and rest areas for senior citizens. The vendors agreed to contribute to the projects, as these facilities are for their use, as well.
Improvement, yet without additional stalls or extensions were requested, as with.traffic signages and overpasses for schoolchildrens’ and general public safety, along elementary schools and crowded streets.
The vendors also requested for education on the clean air act, liquid and solid waste management. They also requested that no trade fairs be done at Burnham Park, as it is said to be “beyond the commerce of man.”
The porters requested for color-coded uniforms, identification cards and permanent parking areas for their carts. For the satellite markets, proper vendors’ business permits and scheduled market days were recommended, as the Mines View vendors requested for a guardhouse, and lighting facilities.
Increased parking fees to discourage long parking hours, public utility vehicles’ staging areas and towing of long-parked vehicles, were recommended.
The vendors recommended strict and constant monitoring by government agencies.
The summit synergizes all efforts and workable plants in a “making the Baguio City Public Market a world class market and make it presentable to residents and to domestic and foreign tourists,” the resolution further states. /Julie G. Fianza#
