Baguio market demolition peaceful

By Isagani S. Liporada

BAGUIO CITY – Stall holders at Block 4 of the Baguio City Market last week peacefully yielded spaces they have occupied for decades to the city government, paving way for improvement of the area.

Mayor Mauricio Domogan said during a media forum voluntary dismantling of the stalls was peaceful. “Groups of stall holders visited us even before the scheduled Nov. 20 demolition, asking if they could voluntarily undertake the same if only to save light materials which they could salvage.”

Overseeing operations since Nov. 18 were councilor Pinky Rondez, city administrator Carlos Canilao; engineerNazitaBañez of the City Buildings and Architecture Office, city police chief David Lacdan, City Fire Department head Richard Villanueva, and market superintendent Policarpio Tamayo.

Over 200-police personnel participated in “Oplan Ground Zero” in anticipation of violence.

The fear was evident with about 25 policemen complementing the city’s demolition team and the Baguio City Market Authority during serving of notices to vacate.

Much to the surprise of authorities however, voluntary dismantling of affected Block 4 occupants started early, Nov. 19.

Oppositors contested the city’s move to implement a P18-million rehab project in the area claiming apparent breach of the city’s development contract with Uniwide.

But Domogan said, “It is Uniwide who has personality to sue the government and not the individual occupants in the area.”

Uniwide apparently gave green light for the rehab after the area was deemed fire and health hazard by concerned agencies.

The ‘go’ was a preventive measure averting an incident similar to the fire that gutted portions of Block
3 and the sari-sari section in 2008.

Tryst Builders won the rehab deal over Block 4 for P18-million even as the budget allocated by the city for said project is P26-million.

Meanwhile, five individuals chose to defy government authorities by chaining themselves inside a hall at Block 4, providing drama to the otherwise peaceful takeover.

At around 6 a.m. of Nov. 20, Alicia SabinoBinay-an, Juliet GuitiwDayayo, Marcela DimangnaRoldan, Anna Rose Dinamling Toguinayo and Angela Bastawang Gonzales refused to vacate the area despite ongoing demotion.

The five were subsequently arrested charged for resistance and disobedience upon agents of persons in authority.

Resistance by occupants of the old Block 3 was a point against their applications to occupy the newly constructed structure.

Portions of Block 4 is up for bidding once the establishment is done.