“500 Days is the target date of completion” - Baliwag Market Renovation

 

“500 Days is the target date of completion” - Baliwag Market Renovation

Baliwag Market Collection Clerk I Jhanine D. Hernadez stated that the Baliwag Market Renovation in Poblacion, Baliwag will be accomplished within 500 days (or before the 2025 Mayor Elections in Baliwag), as renovation is needed for the old buildings that were dilapidated, outdated, and lacked fire safety features.

Baliwag’s Market has seen better days, from the old walls and galvanized steel roofs (yero) with holes and rust, to the lacking fire safety features of the whole building. So, during the latter months of 2023, the Construction of a 2 Storey Public Market and 3 Storey Parking began, which changed the physical landscape and economic situation of a good portion of the vendors of the market.

A nearby picture of the ongoing construction of the New Baliwag Marke

           Temporary makeshift stalls were erected in places near the market, such as Glorietta Park and Saint Augustine Parish Church to accommodate for the vendors who were stationed in the old market building. Makeshift stalls were also placed by roadsides in Poblacion, which caused issues for vendors.

           Some vendors expressed in interviews that they had earned less in their new makeshift stalls, as this putthem away from their usual customers, and for those stalls placed by the road, made it difficult for customers to buy from vendors for fear of oncoming traffic.

To alleviate this, traffic enforcers such as Traffic Supervisor Robin Portuguese mentioned in interviews that they find ways to manage traffic such as by designating routes for tricycles to only come through certain roads to reduce traffic in certain areas, particularly the market-road routes, and establishing parking areas for motorcycles and cars within Glorietta to accommodate for citizens and vendors.

Temporary market stalls set up on the road

Though another issue that vendors deal with is the stalls of the newly constructed market and whether they will be accommodated with slots once it’s finished. Market Collection Clerk I Hernandez also mentioned the system, where zoning (Area 1 only has meat, Area 2 only has vegetables) and applications for permanent vendors will be permitted and considered to ensure the economic stability of vendors once the renovation is completed.

Along with the traffic problems, makeshift stalls, and vendor experiences, the Construction of the 2 Storey Public Market and 3 Storey Parking will be the definite solution, says Hernandez. As vendors move out of the stalls and into the new market, the road will once again be opened as the makeshift stalls are cleared, the vendors will have a chance to establish themselves in the new market buildings, and the 3-storey parking area will hopefully solve the other traffic issues and lack of parking space in the Baliwag Market area.

Article by
Cruz, Jan Patrixia Mae

Jacinto, Roi Jendrick

Parulan, Angel Kathleen