Two vehicular accidents/public market obstructions, eyesores, electrical wiring

City Hall Beat

Aileen P. Refuerzo

BAGUIO CITY -- The city government through the Office of the City Social Welfare and Development Officer attended to the victims of two vehicular accidents that transpired today, Jan. 14, 2025.

Mayor Benjamin Magalong said that based on the report of OCSWD Officer Liza Bulayungan, five victims of a road mishap involving a taxi and pedestrians at Lower General Luna Road at 3:20 p.m. today, Jan.14, 2025 were immediately responded to.

Bulayungan said four suffered slight injuries and are now being treated at the hospital waiting for the results of their tests either for discharge or admission.

One victim however sustained serious injuries.

Coordination was made with the families and the social welfare office of Itogon municipality where three of the victims reside.  The other two are from Kias barangay.

Financial assistance is also being readied for qualified patients.

Baguio City Police Office initial investigation showed that the driver of the vehicle, an Isuzu Crosswind while traversing Lower General Luna Road, Baguio City en route to Magsaysay Avenue incurred an error and bumped into a Toyota Innova.

The BCPO report said personnel from the Traffic Enforcement Unit who responded to the accident advised both drivers to proceed to the TEU office for proper disposition of the case.  While doing so, the offending driver again miscalculated and ran into the victims who were crossing the pedestrian lane.

All victims were rushed to the hospital by responding Emergency Medical Service personnel while the driver was put under the custody of TEU for documentation and proper disposition.

Bulayungan said they also provided assistance to the family of a 56-year-old man from Loakan Liwanag who also died in a road accident at 8:20 a.m. today Jan. 14, 2025 along BGH Compound.

The BCPO said the incident happened while both vehicles were descending towards Kennon Road.

The victim was quickly transported to the hospital where he succumbed to his injuries.
Bulayungan said the city provided burial assistance and psychological first aid to the family of the deceased.

***

A joint inspection was conducted by the city government offices at the 1st and 2nd Kayang and Hilltop Road at the city market to check on sidewalk obstructions, extensions and eyesores and other violations.

The joint team from the Market Office, Baguio City Police Office, Public Order and Safety Division and the Permits and Licensing Division issued 27 citation tickets for obstruction violations, two tickets for violation of Ordinance No. 34-17 or Smoke-Free Baguio ordinance and one for violation of Ordinance No. 35-17 or the Plastic and Styrofoam-Free Baguio ordinance.

The team also confiscated unsanitary wooden chopping boards, bollards used as umbrella stands, dilapidated tables, dirty crates, concrete cements used as umbrella stands and canopy pegs.
The permits division also issued notices to those with business license issues.

***

Personnel of the City Market Office and the City Buildings and Architecture Office inspect the electrical wirings of some sections of the city market last Jan. 11, 2025.

Mayor Benjamin Magalong ordered the preventive check-up to identify faulty electrical wirings and other conditions that may lead to fires and accidents.

Inspected were the stalls at the coconut section, rice section, tinapa section, tobacco section and Hangar market alley.

Earlier, a stall owner sought help from the Public Order and Safety Division (POSD) after observing electrical spark and smoke from his space which was locked and could not be opened.

POSD Head Daryll Longid said they rushed to the stall with a bolt cutter and found policemen already there trying to unlock the door.

Using the POSD tool, they eventually opened the stall but found no signs of spark and smoke.
It was suggested that the owner shut down the circuit breaker as a precaution.

This prompted the mayor to call for the inspection of the electrical wirings.

Last Dec. 29, a fire broke out the city market destroying stalls at the miscellaneous section at Hilltop Road.