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[av_heading heading=’ Maximum tolerance: City gov’t to regulate Dec. sidewalk vending ‘ tag=’h3′ style=’blockquote modern-quote’ size=’30’ subheading_active=’subheading_below’ subheading_size=’15’ padding=’10’ color=” custom_font=” av-medium-font-size-title=” av-small-font-size-title=” av-mini-font-size-title=” av-medium-font-size=” av-small-font-size=” av-mini-font-size=” admin_preview_bg=”]
BY GLENDA SOLOGASTOA
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ILOILO City – “Maximum tolerance” would be observed on sidewalk vendors this holiday season, according to Mayor Jose Espinosa III. But this does not mean the vendors could do whatever they want.
Sidewalk vending would still be regulated to make sure the public is not inconvenienced, said Jeck Conlu, chief of the city government’s Public Safety and Traffic Management Office (PSTMO).
“We are reviewing the problems encountered last year. Some vendors may misconstrue the ‘open sidewalk policy’ as a license to occupy the whole sidewalk. Subong indi na pwede nga pagusto lang,” said Conlu.
The opening of sidewalks to vendors starts on Dec. 11.
“There should be a limitation. We don’t want vendors to obstruct sidewalks or the streets,” said Conlu.
Officials of PSTMO and the Business Permits and Licensing Office (BPLO) started planning for the rules and regulations last week.
PSTMO will form a team to monitor sidewalk vendors’ compliance, said Conlu.
The team would be composed of personnel from the city government’s Special Services Unit, Task Force on Anti-Squatting and Illegal Structures and police auxiliaries.
After the sidewalk vending guidelines are finalized this week, Conlu said, a meeting with the vendors would be conducted.
Around 156 sidewalk vendors applied for special permits during the holidays last year, according to BPLO head Norman Tabud.
This holiday season no vendors, trade fairs and other income-generating activities would be allowed in the city’s public plazas, according to Mayor Espinosa.
Vendors selling fruits, bread and other commodities allowed by law during the holiday season would be permitted to do business only on the sidewalks of the city’s thoroughfares.
“Maximum tolerance kita sa mga gusto magbaligya,” said Espinosa.
The city government would be setting up sidewalk kiosks for them, he added.
As to the sale of firecrackers, however, Espinosa said he would check first with the Philippine National Police and other concerned agencies which may have regulatory policies on these items.
For years, the city government allowed trade fairs in public plazas during the holiday season. It ignored criticisms that these public spaces were being packed with ukay-ukay, videoke bars, carinderias, etc.
“Sa sini nga December, wala sang may maka-cover sang tanan nga plaza sa syudad,” stressed Espinosa.
The city government will beautify and make the plazas safer, said the mayor./PN
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