Iloilo city: The city government of Iloilo has announced a temporary allowance for sidewalk vending during the holiday season, coupled with guidelines to ensure order and safety, starting this weekend.

According to Philippines News Agency, Mayor Raisa Tre±as issued Executive Order No. 139 on Wednesday, highlighting the cultural significance of sidewalk vending as part of Filipino tradition. The order allows vendors to set up stalls along designated streets in the metro, facilitating a source of livelihood and economic recovery during the holiday rush. The executive order specifies that open sidewalk vending is permitted on all Saturdays and Sundays of November, beginning November 15, and throughout December.

The designated areas for open sidewalk vending include sections of Iznart, JM Basa, Ledesma, and Valeria to Delgado Streets, as well as the Jaro, Molo, and Mandurriao plazas. The order strictly prohibits sidewalk vending outside these specified areas, with enforcement falling under the jurisdiction of the Joint Task Force on Road Clearing.

Vendors are required to obtain the necessary permits from the Investment Services Business Permits/Licenses Division of the City Mayor’s Office. Joy Fantilaga-Gorzal, spokesperson for the City Mayor’s Office, urged vendors to comply with the requirements and secure permits, emphasizing the initiative’s role in supporting the local economy. She also called upon shoppers to cooperate with the new measures.