Baguio City mayor seeks cooperation from vendors

By Paul Rillorta

BAGUIO CITY – The city government here have opened up selected spaces in the city’s public market for sidewalk vendors to sell their wares.

           

Mayor Mauricio Domogan said told a media forum  25 stalls at Block 3 have been made available to accommodate vendors who wish to avail of the same.  

           

Domogan however warned sidewalk vendors occupying congested streets and pedestrian pathways to cease and desist from illegal vending activities and cooperate with authorities to minimize inconvenience to the public.

           

“We appeal to vendors not to occupy places where they are not allowed to sell,” Domogan said.

           

“I have ordered the inventory of Block 3 so other vendors can still be accommodated and we will also open stalls which are not being used,” he said.

           

“It is not our intent to go out and arrest them but we want to make sure that vendors understand our city ordinances,” Domogan said.

           

 “We have to clear our sidewalks in order for it to be used as passage of people and not as vending areas,” Domogan said.

“We have no choice but to implement our ordinances against peddling, don’t blame us if we confiscate your goods,” he said.  

           

The Anti-Peddling Task Force will continue with saturation drives to rid the city from illegal vendors primarily in areas with high concentration of people.  

           

The mayor said Block 4 is nearing completion and can accommodate more vendors.

           

The city government opened an alternative site for street vendors which designated Harrison Road as a ‘night market vending area’ from 9 in the evening to 4 in the morning, however due to inclement weather, vendors are unable to sell.