ILOILO City – The city government will prohibit ambulant and transient vendors without permits from selling during the Dinagyang Festival, with violators facing citation tickets and possible confiscation of their carts and merchandise, Mayor Raisa Treñas said, as city authorities moved to dispel confusion over enforcement rules ahead of the major cultural event.
“We want to be very clear — vendors without permits are not allowed to sell. That is the policy,” Treñas said. “There are guidelines in place, and these must be followed, especially during a major event like Dinagyang.”
The mayor issued the clarification after public concern erupted following a press briefing last week suggesting limited enforcement options against unpermitted vendors.
Treñas stressed that existing rules provide clear penalties, including the issuance of citation tickets and the impounding of carts for repeat offenders.
“There should be no confusion. If there are gaps in the implementation, we will address them immediately,” she said. “Regulation is important not only for order but also for fairness to those who complied with the requirements.”
Treñas said she will review current guidelines with officials of the Traffic and Transport Management Office and the Public Order and Safety Management Office to ensure consistent enforcement throughout the festival.
“If they are caught selling without a permit, they will be issued a citation ticket. If they are caught again, we can already impound their food cart or goods,” she said. “We will enforce this consistently.”
At the same time, the city government is considering a short extension of the permit application deadline to accommodate vendors still completing their documents, though Treñas emphasized that compliance remains mandatory.
“We understand that some vendors are still processing their documents, which is why we are looking at the possibility of an extension,” she said. “But there is still a deadline. We need to make sure that everyone selling during Dinagyang has complete and proper documentation.”
Treñas disclosed that a vendor was already apprehended last Saturday for selling in the middle of the road without a permit and was issued a citation ticket, warning that repeat violations would result in stricter penalties.
She added that the city is also reviewing and refining its ambulant vending rules to make them clearer, while reiterating that all permitted vendors must undergo food safety training to protect public health during the festivities.
“We are making sure that those who are allowed to sell have undergone food safety training,” Treñas said. “This is about safeguarding the health of residents and visitors while enjoying the Dinagyang celebration.”/PN
