BAGUIO CITY City sustains dismantling of unsightly market stalls by Harley Palangchao and Paul Rillorta The city was successful in dismantling stalls at blocks 3 and 4 despite protests and threats of political backlash. This time, the city government took a bold step in clearing up the City Public Market from structures and vendors who obstruct pedestrian traffic and to restore order in the area. Personnel of the Public Order and Safety Division (POSD) started the massive clearing operation Thursday and sustained the campaign until Friday. The clearing operation proceeded as scheduled despite many questions from organized ambulant vendors especially at the Lakandula Street. Other areas at the central business district that were cleared from vendors and structures are Lower and Upper Kayang streets, the sidewalks of blocks 3 and 4, Hangar section, Maharlika Livelihood Complex circle, and all alleys and streets that lead to the city market. Journalists who covered the clean-up drive noted even legitimate vendors complicated the problems with their extended stalls. Reports reaching the Baguio City Market Authority revealed some legitimate vendors sub-leased their frontages. POSD personnel dismantled even the structures set up by vendors in alleys along Session Road. Baguio City Police Office personnel provided security to POSD personnel. Earlier, Mayor Mauricio Domogan urged all vendors, to observe order at the market, saying the city will be relentless in its clean-up campaign. The clean-up started right after the two-day planning workshop of Baguio officials and city hall department heads in Subic recently. Domogan said efforts to restore order in the city especially at the market are consistent with the Baguio-Boracay development thrust of President Benigno Aquino III. The mayor, meanwhile, said the city government is not totally stopping vendors from engaging in their trade as a window for vending has been set from 5 to 9 a.m. and 5:30 p.m. onwards on all designated vending areas for humanitarian consideration. “Vendors who do not follow simple rules like cleanliness, settling obligations to the city government, and putting up of illegal extensions will no longer be allowed. Any violation will result to confiscation of goods, immediate expulsion of erring vendors from the city market, and the cancellation of awards and contract of lease and revocation of permits,” the mayor warned.
Posted on: Thu, 08 Aug 2013 02:10:35 +0000
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