Iloilo City Mayor Jerry P. Treñas gave sidewalk vendors a five-day extension to clear the streets of their kiosks and relocate to the designated lot along J.M. Basa Street. The original deadline was scheduled to end yesterday but an extension was provided after vendors appealed for more time.
Vendors now have until Sunday, September 15.
Iloilo City Federation of Sidewalk Vendors Association President Jimmy Dorado confirmed the additional time and assured the mayor they will all be transferred by Monday.
It was earlier reported, displaced vendors would be assessed a rental fee at the new location; however, Public Safety and Transportation Management Office head Jeck Conlu, at the time, was unable to quote a figure but assured it would be “somehow minimal.”
Marcelo Cacho, whose family owns the 2,700-square meter lot, said talks are planned with vendors.
“We would like to meet with the vendors [to discuss] what are the acceptable rental rates,” he said. “While everybody would like it for free, [it would be] unfair to the other businesses and vendors in the city markets [that pay] rent.”
Earlier this week, Treñas announced displaced sidewalk vendors, who are said to surpass 1,500 in number, will each be eligible to receive P5,000 from the Department of Social Welfare and Development.
“We are doing an inventory of all affected, numbering to more than 1,500,” the mayor said.
He said the funds were procured during his time as Iloilo City lone district congressman./WDJ