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Street vendors in Iloilo City will not be removed until the Yuletide season is over. This, despite the DILG Circular that seek to regulate street vendors issued recently.
Iloilo City Mayor Jerry P. Treņas told The News Today that the city government will not displace the sidewalk vendors in view of the implementation of DILG's Executive Order No. 452. The order was issued to organize the existing street vendors in the city for their mutual aid, benefits, and protection.
"We won't regulate the street vendors by December," Treņas said. "Whatever plans we have, it would take place by next year since Christmas season is approaching."
The mayor stressed that it would be difficult forcing the vendors to vacate from the areas they are occupying as of the moment since most of them depends on vending as their main source of livelihood. He added that the city government is still studying for probable alternative plans and ways that could help alleviate the problem on sidewalk vendors.
"As much as possible, I don't want to displace our vendors but we will have to do some regulations," he reiterated.
Treņas likewise said that once the sidewalk vendors will be regulated and registered in the city, these vendors will have IDs and will be paying taxes or fees to the city government. Street vendors will only be allowed to sell in identified areas designated for vending excluding the main thoroughfares, which is one of the prohibited areas.
The mayor is also studying for the possible implementation of open sidewalk that took place during the time of former city mayor Mansueto Malabor.
 
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