A joint inspection of the city market by city authorities revealed “widespread and severe” breach of sanitation and safety regulations prompting the removal of illegal makeshift structures and conduct of intensive clean-up of the different sections.
City Market Office superintendent Ceasar Emilio and Public Order and Safety Division head Daryll Longid said the city recently demolished unauthorized structures at the Meat and Fish section due to filthy state despite “repeated warnings and issuance of citation tickets to vendors regarding illegal partitions, unusable equipment and unsanitary food preparation, all in violation of Baguio City Market Authority (BCMA) Resolution No. 008-2019.”
The two offices led a composite team with the City Health Office-Environmental Health and Sanitation Section (CHSO-EHSD) and Station 7 (COMPAC 1) in conducting rounds of inspections that they said “revealed a severe breach of sanitation and safety regulations.”
This after receiving numerous complaints from market buyers on sanitation and food safety lapses.
“Sanitary Inspector Regina Lapitan was left speechless after witnessing the conditions, citing rat and cockroach infestations, slippery walkways, and uncovered food. Other violations included vendors lacking health certificates, improper attire, sidewalk food preparation, and poor lighting exacerbating the unsightly and dirty condition of the market,” the POSD said.
The team also discovered “makeshift sleeping quarters on rooftops, drinking and smoking dens, trash-filled stalls, dirty surfaces, coconut water contamination, and poor ventilation causing a strong odor.”
The illegal structures which were also fire hazard were later demolished resulting to “improved light and airflow and reduction of foul smell.”
There were three covered stalls that were padlocked and thus were untouched but were issued self-demolition notices.
In view of the findings, the team recommended allocating funds to cover the open space, canceling and requiring reapplication of food vendor permits under stricter regulations and relocating affected vendors to the designated Street Food section. These recommendations await review by concerned offices.
Meanwhile, the team solicited the cooperation of the market vendors and launched a general cleaning campaign at the various sections of the city market to address the sanitation problems.
Emilio said flushing activities were conducted on April 30 at the meat and fish section at the lower portion of Block 3.
On April 29, flushing was also conducted at the livestock section Block 4 relocation area and at the garbage collection staging point along Upper Zandueta St. to remove garbage residuals and waste liquids that cause foul odor and make the road surface slippery. The fish section was also cleaned earlier.
The clean-up efforts were done in coordination with the barangay officials. ** Aileen P. Refuerzo
