BAGUIO CITY – The local governments remains aggressive in identifying the feasible site where the operation of the night market could be transferred to ensure the continuous operation of the nightly business activity once the national government will direct the non-use of Harrison rod for the said purpose.
Councilor Leandro B. Yangot, Jr., chairman of the City Council Committee on market, Trade, Commerce and Agriculture, pointed out that Harrison road is under the jurisdiction of the public works department being one of the national roads in the city that is why it is not under the jurisdiction of the local government, thus, the operation of the nigh market along a portion of the road is actually temporary in nature.
“We are not against the operation of the night market but we want stakeholders to be actively involved in the identification of a permanent site where the operation of the night market could be transferred because we do not actually have he full control on the use of Harrison road wherein the public works department could order the removal of the night market activity in the area that is why the local government must be ready at all times for such purpose,” Councilor Yangot stressed.
The alderman pointed out the night market is providing sustainable livelihood to over 1,6 individuals and their families that is why the local government cannot afford to sacrifice the operation of the night market because it might result to more problems to the city instead of solutions, thus, the need for the involvement of the public in identifying the potential relocation site of the night market operations so that it will not be unduly interrupted.
According to hi, what is important is for stakeholders to be open-minded on the matter because the local government values the significant contribution of the night market in generating added resources aside from serving as an added tourist attraction in the central business district area, especially at night.
The operation of the night market started in 26 with the issuance of Administrative Order No. 23, series of 206 which was signed by Yangot when he was then the Acting city mayor.
Initially, the site of the night market was at the Baguio Athletic Bowl before it was transferred to Harrison road where it continued its operation to date thereby providing sustainable sources of livelihood to ambulant vendors who were displaced by the local government’s aggressive campaign to clear the sidewalks of the city from the proliferation of sidewalk upon the recommendations of the Baguio-Boracay Re-development Task Force which earlier found out that one of the problems of the city was the presence of ambulant vendors along major roads and even inside the public market.
Yangot expressed his gratitude to the stakeholders who were able to understand the purpose of his proposal to identify possible sites where to relocate the regular night market operation considering the possible repercussions of the decision of the public works department to order the non-use of Harrison rod for the said business activity.
He claimed that the night market is one of the local government’s income generating resources with the least investment in terms of the use of public funds to improve the area where the nightly activity is being done.
By Dexter A. See
