BACOLOD City – The city government has strengthened the regulation of ambulant vendors operating along North Capitol Road through the issuance of special permits under the city’s existing vending ordinance.
Mayor Greg Gasataya said ambulant vendors are allowed to operate under City Ordinance No. 1009, Series of 2022, also known as the city’s Vending Regulation Ordinance.
The city government facilitated and assisted vendors in processing their special permits, which are renewable every two months in accordance with the ordinance.
A total of 42 vendors officially received their permits from Gasataya during a distribution ceremony held at the Mayor’s Office on May 25.
According to the mayor, the permit system is intended to ensure proper regulation of vending activities, maintain public safety, and protect both vendors and consumers.
“The purpose of this is regulation—to prevent uncontrolled vending activities while ensuring the safety of vendors and the people who buy from them,” Gasataya said.
He added that the permit system provides vendors with security and legitimacy because their operations undergo proper government processing and authorization.
Gasataya also emphasized the city government’s commitment to maintaining cleanliness in the area through weekly road-flushing operations. He noted that vendors have been cooperating by properly cleaning their stalls and disposing of their garbage after business hours.
Aside from sanitation efforts, the city plans to install additional streetlights and enforce stricter traffic regulations, particularly against illegally parked vehicles that obstruct vendors during their designated operating hours.
“We also want to ensure that other government programs can be extended to assist them. By granting permits, we are giving dignity to their livelihood and making their operations legal,” the mayor said.
One of the beneficiaries, Belinda Deloso, expressed gratitude to the city government after finally obtaining a permit following 25 years of vending.
Deloso said that before the issuance of permits, vendors were often forced to relocate and evade authorities because they lacked legal documentation to operate.
Under the ordinance, “peddlers” refer to vendors using stalls or mobile units such as food trucks, motorcycles, tricycles, trisikads, and similar vehicles selling food and non-food products directly or indirectly related to food preparation and handling.
Councilor Celia Flor, author of the ordinance, explained that vending activities are allowed only in designated areas identified under City Ordinance No. 1009.
“The ordinance covers all vendors operating within the city,” Flor said. “However, it does not include registered vendors inside public markets who already have permanent business locations, valid permits, and are paying the corresponding business taxes.”
The ordinance designates the following vending areas and operating schedules:
*Gallardo Street corner La Salle Avenue up to University of St. La Salle Gate 1 – 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.
*North Capitol Road up to Aguinaldo Street corner – 6 p.m. to 10 p.m.
*Gatuslao Street (between Jollibee Luzuriaga and Ballesteros Street) – 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.
*Gonzaga Street (between Amar Plaza and Chinky’s) – 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.
*Luzuriaga Street (between PNB and Greenwich) – 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.
*Bacolod City Public Plaza – 8 a.m. to 6 p.m.
*Bonifacio Street – 4 p.m. to 10 p.m.
*South side of Ballesteros Street – 8 a.m. to 9 p.m.
The ordinance was enacted to protect vendors’ sources of livelihood while safeguarding consumers and residents from potential economic, health, and public safety concerns./PN
