Following reports of ‘ukay-ukay’ vendors, or second-hand clothing retailers, operating within the Jaro Plaza during the recent Jaro Agro-Industrial and Charity Fair, Iloilo City Mayor Jose Espinosa III reminded the public of his executive order barring such activity from the city’s plazas.

Aside from ordering vendors to cease operations, he also called on the public to report vendors violating the order.

“The police [have] the authority to confiscate and close [their] establishments,” the mayor affirmed.

In 2017, as acting mayor, Espinosa signed an executive order ordering the removal of illegal structures, which included kiosks selling ‘ukay-ukay.’

The order cited violations to RA 4653, which prohibits the commercial importation of textile articles; and RA 7832, the Anti-electricity and Electric Transmission Lines/Materials Pilferage Act of 1994.

At the time, Espinosa pointed out, following an inspection of Jaro Plaza, it was revealed there were unauthorized electrical connections made to the city government line./WDJ