Iloilo City reopens sidewalk vending for holidays

By Joseph Bernard A. Marzan

The Iloilo City government will again allow sidewalk vendors to operate along major streets on weekends this November and throughout December as part of its Christmas season activities.

Mayor Raisa Treñas-Chu issued Executive Order No. 139, series of 2025, on Wednesday, November 12, authorizing all-day sidewalk vending on November 15, 16, 22, 23, 29, and 30, and from December 1 to 31.

The permitted areas include:

• Iznart Street (from Jollibee to Merzci/Po’s Marketing and from Maria Clara to before BPI);
• M. Basa Street (from Piche-Piche up to Regent, except in front of the International Hotel heritage building);
• Ledesma Street (from Iloilo Auto Supply to XPH, and from Unitop to F&C);
• Valeria and Delgado Streets (from F&C to Iloilo Supermart at Marymart);
• Delgado Street (from Merzci corner to Iloilo Supermart Marymart);
• Jaro Plaza area (across SM SaveMore, Pius XII side up to the corner of JASAC);
• Molo Plaza (Locsin Street across Molo Mansion); and
• Mandurriao Plaza (across the Civil Service Commission building).

“In anticipation of holiday celebrations, it is expected that, as part of Filipino tradition, vendors set up stalls along the allowed and identified streets of the metro, and customers would flock to purchase their needs especially during the holiday rush—providing vendors with their source of livelihood and another platform for economic recovery,” the executive order stated.

Interested vendors must comply with requirements set by the Special Services Division (SSD) of the Public Order and Safety Management Office (POSMO), including:

• Barangay clearance from the area where they intend to sell;
• Community tax certificate (cedula);
• Special permit contract from the SSD;
• Anti-smoking signage from the Iloilo City Anti-Smoking Task Force;
• Health card for food vendors; and
• Attendance at a Solid Waste Management orientation by the General Services Office.

Applicants must also pay a PHP 500 fee to the City Treasurer’s Office.

The Investment Services, Business Permits, and Licensing Division will issue the special permits, and vendors may only set up stalls after receiving approval.

Each stall must measure two by two meters, with at least 0.5 meters of clearance from the gutter to allow pedestrian movement, and must be dismantled and cleaned before December 31.

The SSD will oversee the inspection of stalls, cleanliness, permit validation, and enforcement of all rules and regulations set by the city government.