Mayor Benjamin Magalong suspended the Baguio night market hours after it reopened on Monday night due to lapses in crowd control.
The mayor ordered City Treasurer Alex Cabarrubias and Market superintendent Fernando Ragma Jr. to meet and assess the incident immediately.
“Identify our weak points and vulnerabilities and discuss solutions. I want feedback as soon as possible,” Magalong said.
Under the initial plan, Baguio night market operation time will from 8:00 PM-11:30 PM and only 50 percent of vendors be allowed to open per week.
There will be a total of 481 concessionaires (433 dry goods and 48 food).
Stall measurement was adjusted from 1.5 meters (m) by 1.5 m to 2 m by 2 m.
Health and safety protocols had been crafted with the Baguio City Market Authority task force and the City Health Services Office Sanitation Division under Engr. Charles Carame.
As agreed on, each vendors’ block will have its own Health Protocol Officer (HPO) to assist the city in implementing health protocol policies and laws.
Mayor suspends Baguio night market test run
Tents will be uniform, green color to be provided by the concessionaires at their own expense, except food vendors to maintain the old one.
The city government pushed for the reopening of the Baguio night market in a bid to reopen the economy and bring back the livelihood of the displaced vendors following the COVID-19 pandemic.
However, Magalong said that businesses reopening should not compromise the health and safety of the people.
“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 said.
Meanwhile, Baguio City also officially opened its Yuletide celebration by lighting the Christmas tree at the Session Road rotunda last night.
“We will do it for one reason, and that is because we love our family, our close friends, our neighbors, our city, and all those coming to celebrate with us,” Magalong said.
“Let’s not be complacent. Let’s not allow ourselves to slacken or slide back to our careless ways,” he added as he urged Baguio residents to continue observing health and safety protocols during the Holiday season.