Night market evaluation: Weaknesses outweigh strengths
No less than the proponent himself, City Councilor Jed Patrick Mabilog, found out that the newly implemented Night Market along Muelle Loney Street brought more setbacks than opportunities to the affected vendors.
In a SWOT (strength, weaknesses, opportunities, threats) analysis made by Mabilog, it was found that the weaknesses outnumber the strengths relative to the implementation of the ordinance.
Despite the negative result Mabilog is still hopeful that the Night Market will become successful.
Earlier, Mayor Jerry Treñas allowed some vendors to go back to their original locations after they complained of low income.
Based on his evaluation, Mabilog enumerated the six opportunities coming from the night market ordinance. These include, improved economic activity in the city proper during night time, tourist destination and alternative night venue for local residents (family) and their visitors.
The night market is also a venue for activities such as concerts and food festival. It also offers job opportunities for Ilonggos and new entrepreneurs.
In the same analysis, Mabilog identified the weaknesses in the implementation of the night market ordinance such as, no comfort rooms at the site, congested traffic, longer route for truckers, low sales on some days of the week, no place to stay when raining, stalls are "too heavy" and limited time (up to 12 midnight only).
Mabilog also identified as a weakness the absence of other goods, aside from food, sold in the night market.
In last Wednesday's regular session of the Sangguniang Panlungsod, Mabilog was supposed to amend certain provisions in the Night Market Ordinance. He, however deferred his plan after some of his colleagues argued that the ordinance is still in the experimentation stage.