Mayor Benjamin Magalong attributed the success of the city market’s seven-day post-fire clean-up and rebuilding campaign which accomplished the gargantuan task projected for three months to just seven days to sheer hard work and cooperative efforts or “bayanihan” spirit of both the public and private sectors.
In his address during the flag-raising rites on March 20, 2023, the mayor related that he was first given a timeline of two months to clear the remnants of the March 11, 2023 fire that ate up a third of the total market area and another one month to build temporary stalls to house the displaced vendors numbering 1,642.
Thinking of the plight of the vendors and the prospect of disrupting their livelihood for that long, the mayor opted for a tall order.
“No, we don’t have three months. We have seven days to restore the market,” he recalled telling the city’s team.
“I know it is an ambitious and tall order but we have to push ourselves to the limit until we bring back normalcy at the city market and reinstate our vendors,” the mayor posed the challenge.
True enough the seemingly impossible task proved doable through the cooperative and concerted efforts of the different organizations, groups and individuals guided by the mayor’s strong leadership.
A day after the deadline on March 8, 2023, spaces cleaned and cleared of fire remnants and makeshift stalls were turned over to the vendors.
The mayor said that as of March 19, 2023 or day 7 of the campaign, almost 100 percent of the burned area had been cleaned and cleared while stalls were 80 to 85 percent done.
Market Superintendent Ceasar Emilio said a total of 112 original stallholders can occupy the reconstructed stalls at the left side upper level of Block 3. The vendors transferred to the area that morning.
Emilio said 141 more can return to the right side of the same level possibly also tomorrow upon completion of the canvas roof installations.
Block 4's basement is also expected to be finished soon to accommodate the occupants.
With the completion of Blocks 3 and 4's safe areas and with Rillera Building now housing ten percent of the displaced vendors, Emilio projected that only 20 percent of the affected vendors totaling 1,642 will be left in temporary relocation sites along Kayang-Hilltop, Zandueta and 2nd Kayang as well as those occupying Malcolm Square, Igorot Garden and Perfecto St.
Emilio said a total of 124 dry goods, 50 refreshments and 10 eateries were able to reopen at the Rillera Bldg starting March 16, 2023.
He said drawing of lots for the 84 spaces at Malcolm Square and 32 spaces at Igorot Garden for dry goods sellers transpired last March 16, 2023 for a total of 116 slots drawn among 500 affected garment vendors. Thirty slots were also given to 30 more vendors on March 18 at Perfecto St.
The city council led by Vice Mayor Faustino Olowan in a special session on March 16, 2033 adopted legislations that would allow the use of Malcolm Square and Perfecto St. as temporary relocation sites.
The aldermen also approved the P8 million fund for the rehabilitation of Blocks 3 and 4 which has been certified available by the Local Finance Committee. - Aileen P. Refuerzo
