BAGUIO CITY – Volunteers have joined hands to clean the public market here hit by a fire on Saturday night, March 11.
VOLUNTEERS clean the Baguio City Public Market on Monday, March 13, after it was hit by a fire on Saturday night, March 11. Baguio Mayor Benjamin Magalong has set a seven-day deadline for the cleanup to enable the market and vendors to return to normal operations. (JJ Landingin)
Mayor Benjamin Magalong leads volunteers from the Baguio City Police Office (BCPO), reservists from the Philippine Army (PA) and Philippine Navy (PN), and Kabataan party-list. Assisting them are porters and vendors.
Magalong told volunteers that the public market must return to normal in seven days starting Monday, March 13, to enable vendors and stall owners to resume operations.
A steady stream of ten-ton garbage trucks have been in and out of Hilltop Market since the cleanup operations started.
Also seen were crews from utility companies restoring damaged electrical, internet, phone, cable, and water services to the market.
Construction teams are building wooden temporary stalls on Zandueta St. for displaced vendors.
Regional Fire Investigation and Intelligence Chief of the Bureau of Fire Protection Insp. Bernard Bravo said that they have identified the area in Block 4 where the fire started.
However, the cause is still being determined based on eyewitness and forensic evidence. Almost 2,000 stalls were razed in the fire and damage to property was placed at P24 million.
Bravo said they have gathered evidence in the area where the fire originated, the used clothes section between Blocks 4 and 3. They have cordoned the area to preserve possible pieces of evidence.
Block 4 was totally razed while Block 3 was partially destroyed.