Baguio night market suspended, many dismayed

Baguio City, Philippines – Suspension of the operation of the night market in Baguio City was ordered by Mayor Benjamin Magalong today after lapses in crowd control was observed on its reopening on December 1, 2020, according to PIO Baguio.

As reported by PIO Baguio, City Treasurer Alex Cabarrubias and Market superintendent Fernando Ragma Jr. were asked by the mayor to immediately conduct a meeting and conduct post-market assessment to evaluate the incident.

As commanded by the mayor, identification of weak points and vulnerabilities and discussion of solutions should be done. Magalong is expecting an immediate feedback regarding said order.

As a result of said decision, angered netizens are now flooding the comment section questioning the decision of the City Government of reopening and then suddenly suspending the night market’s operation because of the problem encountered regarding crowd control.

“Why the need to suspend if the Mayor is confident of his decision, for sure prior to the opening all precautionary measures have been well deliberated by the Sangguniang panglungsod? If the virus is that risky, we should not be in the trial and error already, the City should have anticipated that people from the lowlands could add up the number of wagwagers even if mabainen i benguet nga makiwagwag. Just saying. Cge ketdi isupay nga income. Go,” one netizen commented.

Other netizens also expressed their concerns on stall owners who have already spent their money purchasing bulk of goods to be sold for the said reopening.

Meanwhile, as for other commenters, they said instead of doing the blaming game, night market goers should have known their responsibility at first and should have followed the health and safety protocols being implemented.

It could be recalled that the reopening of the market is simultaneously done with the lighting Christmas tree at the Session Road rotunda on December 1.

On November 9,2020, PIO Baguio in their report told that the city pursued the resumption of the reopening of the night market as this is part of the city’s “new normal direction” on reopening the economy as well as restoring the livelihood of over 1000 vendors affected when the night market’s operation stopped during the outbreak of the Coronavirus.

However, the mayor said the reopening of businesses should not sacrifice the health and safety of the people and set aside health protocols against the coronavirus.

“We must strike a balance between reopening the economy and safeguarding the health and safety of the people. This is our new normal direction,” the mayor was quoted saying.

Health and Safety protocols were also crafted by the City Market Authority Task Force and the City Health Service Office sanitation Division under Engr. Charles Carama necessary for the reopening of said night market.

RELATED NEWS

Baguio night market reopens December 1

ADVERTISEMENT

Follow Guru Press Cordillera on Facebook for more News and Information