Baguio mayor orders cases filed against ‘market ‘lords’

By Paul Rillorta

BAGUIO CITY – Mayor Mauricio Domogan has ordered the filing of charges against market vendors who do not recognize the city government’s ownership of the area even as construction of a new structure will take 220 days while guidelines for its use are being formulated by a task force.

The old city marker was demolished two weeks ago. During the Alay sa Kalinisan meeting held Tuesday, Domogan instructed market superintendent Policarpio Tamayo to hasten its investigation on persons who leased out the market for personal gain.

This, as reports of individuals who refuse to pay leasehold rights over spaces in the market and persons who collect from fellow vendors but do not have authority from the city government reached his office.

He said the city is prepared to file criminal and civil cases to those who are “lording it over the market”.

Domogan also directed Tamayo to investigate persons involved and who authorized them to collect.

The mayor added the city government has to implement what has to be implemented, not for personal reasons but for the general interest of the public.

Some areas of the market including Block 4 is also being considered to be rehabilitated once funding is available.