BAGUIO CITY – The City Council approved on first reading a proposed ordinance providing for policies on the turnover of the new Rillera building in the city public market to the city government.
The ordinance authored by Councilor Philian Louise Weygan stated the new Rillera building shall be turned over to the original and legitimate stall owners of the old building prior to its construction as the priority occupants before other existing qualified vendor applicants.
The ordinance stipulated the zoning of the new building will be in compliance with the new floor layout prepared by the City Buildings and Architecture Office (CBAO) which specifies 350 stalls for possible occupancy.
Further, the original and legitimate stall occupants of the old Rillera building should be given priority in occupying the new stalls at the new structure but the same should still be in compliance with the zoning requirement.
On the other hand, the ordinance added that the remaining stalls should be allotted as follows: basement level fish extension – 20, meat – 20, entrance – 20; road level fish extension – 25; second level fish extension – 25.
Under the said proposal, the remaining stalls shall not be occupied by the original and legitimate stall owners but will be awarded to existing, registered and qualified vendors located within the mini-park in the city market, Block 3, Block 4 and the roving vendors in the public market.
After the submission and drawing of lots of vendors pursuant to the provisions of the said measure, the ordinance notes that the vendors who are in agreement with the results of the assignments of the same can now signify in writing their acceptance and interest to occupy the stalls assigned within 20 days and that their failure to do so shall give the Baguio City Market Authority (BCMA) the right to award the unoccupied stalls to other existing and qualified vendors.
The ordinance prohibited the stallholders of the new Rillera building to vend outside the said structure and prior to the drawing of lots and assignments, the existing legitimate vendors shall pay their obligations to the city government.
The ordinance stipulates the stall owners are mandated to state in their applications for stalls in the new Rillera building they do not own any stall in any part of the public market.
The ordinance noted the list of new occupants of the new Rillera building shall be submitted to the BCMA, the City Council body and the same shall be posted in public areas for transparency and information and should there be any complain or reason where the selected applicants should not be awarded a stall, the same should be filed with the City Council and the City Mayor and that the same will be acted upon within a period not exceeding 30 days, upon which the occupant may be granted a continuance or a denial of the awarded stall.
Section 2 of Ordinance No. 005, series of 1994, states that vacant stalls and newly constructed stalls be adjudicated by the BCMA to qualified applicants.
The Rillera building was built in 1975 by the Hilltop Market Fish Vendors Association, Inc. that housed fish vendors before it was improved to a 3-storey building.
By Dexter A. See
