Sidewalk vendors’ tenure extended

BAGUIO CITY -- Identified newspaper stands, watch repair proprietors, peanut and corn vendors will be allowed to renew their special business permits to sell here provided they are compliant to the 0.6 meters setback and not obstruct walkways.
    The city council adopted Resolution No. 382, series of 2023 requesting Mayor Benjamin Magalong to extend the validity of the agreement of Permits and Licensing Division of the City Mayor’s Office and the affected newspaper stands, vendors and watch repair proprietors from July 2023 to December 2023 until such time that the City Planning, Development, and Sustainability Office (CPDSO) has come up with concrete plans and arrangements 7for their relocation.

The mayor signed the resolution on July 4, 2023.

This arrangement between the city and the newspaper stands, vendors and watch repair proprietors has been going on since 2021 with special permits renewed every six months per city council resolution.

Issuance of a City Council resolution is required as a win-win solution to the pertinent provisions of Memorandum Circular (MC) No. 2020-145 of the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) mandating local government units and the Department of Public Works and Highways to implement the national sidewalk recovery program.

Some 53 newsstand vendors, watch repair and locksmith stand operators have been benefiting from this arrangement with constant reminders that they should display their items inside properties that do not obstruct sidewalks.

Vendors are likewise reminded to keep their areas of trade clean and orderly to avoid any sanction or denial of application of special business permit. – JMPS