Council okays OCSWD trade fair

MARKET vendor’s opposition was set aside in favor of a trade fair starting March 23 requested by the Office of the City Social Welfare and Development.

In a special session on last week, the council convened to deliberate on the matter in consideration of the agency’s request to fund it’s drug rehabilitation program.

The committee on market trade and commerce chaired by Councilor Leandro Yangot approved the request and was backed by the council.

“Let's take the cue from His Excellency President Rodrigo R. Duterte in his relentless fight against drugs. It is

also a gargantuan task in the city of Baguio as the magnitude of the problem requires immediate attention. The LGU of Baguio is doing its best to address the problem,” Yangot said.

Y an got added OCSWD has launched a massive campaign to address the root cause and has come up with effective programs to attend to the concerns of Persons with Substance Use Disorder (PSUD).

“No money was allotted for the OCSWADO for its drug related programs. So we must heed the call,” Yangot quipped.

There will be at least 120 stalls on both lanes of Lake Drive in Burnham Park measuring 2x3 meters with the City Treasurer’s Office checking compliance and payment of fees.

But some 500 market vendors have filed their opposition against the proposed trade fair.

“We the undersigned stall holders at the Baguio City Public Market register our strong opposition to any trade fair at Burnham Park specially this summer,” the petition reads.

Market vendor Reggie Gonzales said if the trade fair is approved, it will take away as much as 70 percent of expected sales from 2,000 merchants from the market area.

Gonzales said summer is the window of opportunity the vendors are expecting to make profit considering the Baguio Flower Festival has affected their sales.

“The recently concluded Panagbenga Market Encounter has drastically affected our sales. This time of the year should be our opportunity to offset the lean season,” added the petition.

Jackie Alabat, Baguio Market Vendors Association treasurer and president of the Sari Sari section said they are asking the council to either stop the trade fair or put it in a place where there will be no direct competition with market vendors.

Alabat said products sold at the trade fair are the same with market items, making tourists and locals prefer to buy from the area rather than exploring the market area which have various sections and products.

“We have a trade fair ordinance which is observed in the exception rather than to the letter of ordinance. While the objective of the proposed trade fair is for the drug abuse campaign and therefore a laudable part of government initiative and policies the same could be addressed by this August body by simply appropriating required funding,” the vendors asserted.

But Yangot said the conduct of the trade fair is the fastest way to raise funds.

“I challenge those who are critical of the OCSWADO program to produce P2 million. If they can produce, I am willing to initiate the withdrawal of the approval of the trade fair,” added Yangot.

Vendors however said the request should therefore be denied but the appropriate funding be provided by the city through the Sangguniang Panglungsod.

In a bid to fund livelihood projects for the drug rehabilitation program, OCSWDO officer Betty Fangasan said a 30-day trade fair was requested to raise P2million.

The papers have been sent to Mayor Mauricio Domogan for his approval and signature.