Food ban still on at Baguio night market

THE fate of night market food vendors hangs as the Baguio City Market Authority [BCMA] is meeting on how to accommodate vendors but still maintain sanitation.

Councilor Leandro Yangot said a meeting with city health officials will determine how to go about selling food in the night market.

Yangot stands as BCMA council representative and said the body initially allowed food which is to be reheated only to be sold in the area, however, health officials said the practice is prohibited according to sanitation laws.

The BCMA banned cooking at the entire stretch of the night market citing violations on cleanliness and sanitation.

Yangot said sanitation and cleanliness along Harrison road has improved since the food ban.

A common complaint is cooking oil used by vendors are thrown into the drainage as well as plant boxes in the park area which has alarmed the City Environment and Parks Management Office.

The BCMA said violations of the food vendors from the

night market have long been pointed out but has fallen on deaf ears.

There are 93 food vendors selling food products during the night market.

A nightly regulation fee (kuratais) of 50 pesos is collected from the vendors who have decided to set up shop at the road.

The night market income for the city is pegged at give the city millions monthly.

The night market phenomenon started in 2007 when vendors of ukay ukay stalls along Calderon street started selling their ware at night on makeshift tables as well as on the pavements.

One lane of the road closes at around 9pm nightly to give way for vendors to set up their makeshift shops, trading goes on until past midnight.

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