Market applicants warned: no ‘palakasan’ in award of stalls

By Aileen P. Refuerzo

BAGUIO CITY – Only legitimate vendors who will pass the criteria set by the city government will be awarded stalls at the soon to be completed Block IV section of the city market.

            Mayor Mauricio Domogan warned vendors resorting to lobbying and “palakasan” tactics to land a space at the newly refurbished section that unless they qualify in the list of priority set by the city, they will not be allowed any slot.

            “We do not wish to give false hopes to our vendors.  Those who will not fall under the list of priority will not be accommodated in Block IV,” the mayor said.

            The mayor said the city will adopt the criteria it used in selecting vendors who were awarded stalls and spaces at the Block III to ensure smooth award of the stalls upon the project’s completion.

            The criteria lists the following order of priorities: first priority will be given to vendors who were included in the census of actual occupants with permits conducted by the Baguio City Market Authority ; second priority will be those who were in the census but paid their dues only until December 2011; third, vendors who were in the census but were not paying rent; and fourth, new applicants.

            Block IV’s floor plan initially provides for a total of 412 stalls.

            The development project was funded with P18 million and was the latest in the string of market development projects after the tobacco and sari-sari and Block III sections.

            The mayor said the city is presently implementing additional programs of work to provide parking amenities and other additional features.

            He expressed confidence that the project will be completed ahead of schedule.