Vendors limited to two areas during Dinagyang

By Emme Rose Santiagudo

The city government has designated specific streets in the metro as selling areas of ambulant vendors during Dinagyang 2020.

During the festival highlights from January 24-26, 2020, ambulant vendors are only allowed to sell at Guanco and Yulo Streets in City Proper district.

Ambulant vendors are also required to secure a special business permit from the city government as part of Dinagyang policy.

The vendors will only have one processing day on Tuesday, Jan. 21 at the Special Service Division of the Public Safety and Transportation Management Office (SSD-PSTMO), 5th Floor, Iloilo City Hall building.

The processing will be from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. on a “first come, first serve” basis.

Before the Business Permit and Licensing Office (BPLO) can issue the special business permit, ambulant vendors are required to pay P200 to the City Treasure’s Office.

Food sellers are advised to bring their specific health cards while owners should bring their respective cedulas.

The mobile and stationary display carts of the ambulant vendors should measure 2 feet x 4 feet and must have the “No Smoking” and “No Littering Signs”.

In previous interviews, PSTMO head Jeck Conlu said they leave it to the festival’s new organizer, Iloilo Festivals Foundation Inc. (IFFI) as to the final guidelines for the ambulant vendors.

He said that the sidewalk vendors at the Cacho Property in J.M. Basa Street in City Proper will remain in their area.

“During Dinagyang proper, ang sidewalk vendors dira na lang sila, wala na kita ginatan-aw wala sila pagbalik kay magutok aton kalye,” he said.

The city government ordered vendors to vacate the sidewalks as part of road clearing operations ordered by the national government.

They were transferred to the 2,700-square-meter property of Panay Electric Company (PECO).