New Satellite Market at Mines View to Clear the Park Itself of Vendors

Mines View Park lined with stores limits the view of the park

 The city inaugurated last Monday, Oct. 31, a four-floor satellite market at Mines View Park to serve as relocation area for souvenir shops blocking the steps to the popular rock view deck overlooking the former gold mines and mountains of Itogon, Benguet. 

Mayor Mauricio Domogan and Rep. Bernardo Vergara led in the ceremonies, with Bishop Carlito Cenzon, Catholic vicar apostolic of Baguio, heading religious leaders in blessing the edifice that will soon house 201 souvenir stalls, the barangay hall, and district clinic.

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“This multi-purpose hall is our commitment since years back,” the mayor said of the long-delayed project that was finally launched in January last year. 

“After seven years, it is (now) a fulfilled dream,” noted Vergara who, as the city mayor then, signed in February 2004 with the Mines View Barangay and the Mines View Open Market Vendors Association, an agreement setting the guidelines for the construction and awarding of stalls on a joint management scheme.

With the building completed, Domogan said the foremost issue would be the rate of lease of the stalls the city will impose after consultation with the beneficiary vendors and the barangay officials, in accordance with the agreement. 

City councilor Peter Fianza, who had talks with officers of the association and barangay officials during his term as city administrator, recalled the vendors had sought a rental rate that would allow them to develop their business rather than based on the city’s recouping capital for the construction. 


The agreement created a Mines View Park Satellite Market Committee composed of the city mayor, the punong barangay, and a representative from the vendors association. 

It will oversee and supervise the awarding of stalls to members of the association, “as legitimate occupants,” determine the qualification of applicants other than members of the association, perform other functions as may be assigned by the mayor, and to jointly manage the satellite market. 

The agreement was required by the city council prior to the confirmation of the contract for the construction of the building. Construction, supervised by the city building and architecture office headed by Engr. Oscar Flores, began in January last year under Goodrich construction with an initial fund of P38.2 million. The city council last January added P12 million for the completion of the same. 

The relocation of the vendors to the building may yet lead to the restoration of the park’s status as a national tourist destination. The Department of Tourism de-listed it as such for the proliferation of stalls that destroyed its ambiance. 

The park’s down-grading, however, appeared to have no effect on the flow of tourists who, aside from finding their way through the maze of stalls, are offered commercial photo opportunities on horseback or with pet dogs at the rock promontory.
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