BAGUIO CITY – The City Council approved on first reading a proposal known as the Pacdal-Gibraltar district satellite market ordinance of 2019, providing for the construction, appropriation and adjudication of the stalls in the said facility.
The ordinance authored by Councilor Philian Louise Weygan-AlLan states the City Council shall establish satellite markets and authorize the operation of the same to help decongest the city public market, provide economic activity and income to the people in the districts and to prevent ambulant vendors in the outskirts of the city.
The ordinance added the design of the satellite market should include the necessary parking lot, wet market, dry market, food court, toilets, offices and clinics, sewage treatment plant, solid waste facility, and sitting area with trees and flowers.
The ordinance stipulates the district satellite market should comply with the guidelines of the building code and housing and land use regulations.
The satellite market shall never be owned by one person or corporation and that the same shall be managed by the satellite market management composed of the City Mayor as chairperson, co-chaired by the City Treasurer and shall include the chairperson of the City Council Committee on Market, Trade, Commerce and Agriculture; City Building Official, City Engineer, sectoral representatives, barangay representatives, business representatives, vendors representatives, implementing offices, satellite market officer, Public Order and Safety Division and City Permits and Licensing Officer, as members.
The ordinance states the Pacdal-Gibraltar satellite market shall try to serve the basic needs of the people in the vicinity and in a way, a mini-duplicate of the city public market functions in the said area so as to decongest the city market, and thus must include as many aspects of the city public market by having wet, dry and refreshment sections.
However, it must observe proper zoning in the market area to ensure orderliness inside and outside the market facility established within the city’s district.
The ordinance claims the sale of appropriate agricultural products will be encouraged but roving vendors will be allowed in the satellite market and in the said district.
Under the proposed ordinance, no vendor or business establishment in the barangay satellite market shall sell liquor, cigarettes or any prohibited items aside from the fact that no karaoke should be allowed in the said facility unless it is being done during an agricultural or trade fair.
The ordinance points out the sale of meat, poultry, fish, vegetables, fruits, fresh dairy products and other food stuff for public consumption shall be in accordance with existing ordinances and health standards.
Under the proposed ordinance, it shall be prohibited for any person to be vending once he or she is sick and that people serving refreshments and working in the wet market should have a certified health certificate issued by the City Health Services Office.
Violators of the provisions of the proposed ordinance shall be fined P2,000 for the first offense, P3,000 and suspension of permit to operate business until compliance with the ordinance for the second offense, and P5,000, imprisonment of the business operators for 30 days or revocation of business license or both at the discretion of the court.
By DEXTER A. SEE
