4,000 vendors await market plans

OVER 4,000 vendors at the public market await the approval for its redevelopment and improvement.

Councilor Philian Weygan – Allan said the master plan for the market including the market ordinance will be up for approval in the City Council with stakeholders staying bullish of the redevelopment. Weygan said the design, as well as the management and system of the market operations are detailed in the ordinance up for filing at the City Council and will be given back to stakeholders for comments, starting discussions on

how to improve the public market.

“This is a long process, but we hope to start work [on the market design] by the first quarter of next year,” Weygan-Allan said.

Weygan-Allan added an initial P28 million funding was sought for the market plan which will steer its development with a new zoning, design and loading and unloading areas aimed to ease congestion on the city.

The work will be undertaken by the local government but is open to partner with the existing market cooperatives.

Nancy Alabanza, market representative to the Baguio City Market Authority (BCMA) said the estimated 4,000 stall owners are eager for the development of the market for them to have bigger stalls and a better system to operate.

Alabanza added the biggest fear of stakeholders at the onset to talks was a displacement and cost of new stalls and was discussed a length during meetings.

Weygan-Allan assured the slots for all legitimate vendors but stressed a weeding out of multiple slot holders will done.

“Some have slots at the market, night market, wet market, bagsakan center. We will only have one slot per person, so that everyone will have a space, for those who have multiple slots, they have to decide which one to retain,” Weygan-Allan added.