By Mariela Angella Oladive
Recognizing holiday vending as both a tradition and a source of livelihood, Mayor Jerry P. Treñas signed Executive Order No. 165 on December 12, permitting temporary sidewalk fruit vending in designated areas.
The initiative will run from December 14 to December 31, providing regulated opportunities for vendors to sell along sidewalks near the Iloilo Terminal Market while ensuring public safety and cleanliness.
Under the order, vending is restricted to the sidewalks of Mabini and De Leon Streets. Vendors operating outside these areas will face enforcement actions from the Joint Task Force on Road Clearing.
To participate, vendors must meet specific requirements and submit the following documents to the Special Services Division (SSD) of the Public Safety and Management Office (POSMO):
- Barangay clearance from the vending location.
- Community Tax Certificate (CEDULA).
- Special Permit Contract (SSD).
- Anti-smoking signage from the Iloilo City Anti-Smoking Task Force (ICAST).
- Health Card, if selling food products.
Guidelines and Stall Specifications
Approved vendors can set up their stalls beginning December 17 at 6:00 p.m. Each stall must follow size and placement guidelines:
- Maximum size: 2×2 meters.
- Minimum spacing: 1 meter apart.
- Stalls must be at least 0.5 meters away from the gutter to maintain pedestrian access.
A processing fee of PHP 500, payable to the City Treasurer’s Office, is required. Vendors are allowed only one stall each, with no exceptions for additional stalls.
City inspectors will ensure compliance with health, safety, and cleanliness standards. Vendors must prominently display their special permits during operations and dismantle their stalls at the end of the period, leaving the area clean and free of debris.
The Department of Trade and Industry Region 6 (DTI-6) clarified that monitoring prices of goods sold by sidewalk vendors is beyond its jurisdiction due to the localized nature of such operations.
DTI-6 encouraged buyers to canvass prices and compare options early to make informed purchasing decisions during the holiday season.
