Agreement on newspaper stands, watch repair to be extended

City officials want the local government to extend further until April 2022 to June 2022 the validity of the agreement entered into by the Permits and Licensing Division of the City Mayor’s Office and the newspaper stand vendors and watch repair operators.

Under Resolution No. 104, series of 2022, local legislators stated that they are amenable to give consideration to the appeal of concerned group as conveyed during the citizen’s forum segment of its regular session that the newspaper stands and watch repair booths be allowed to stay further until such time that the concrete plans and arrangements for them to be accommodated in relocation areas are in place.

In compliance with Department of the Interior and Local government (DILG) Memorandum circular No. 2020-145 which mandated local government units to clear roads and sidewalks from obstructions, the Permits and Licensing Division of the City Mayor’s Office had given the newspaper stand vendors, watch repair proprietors, locksmiths and other vendors until June 2021 to comply with the required 0.6 meter setback from the sidewalk or to find a relocation pursuant to their agreement in a public consultation held last December 15, 2020. 

Because of the continuing Corona Virus Disease (COVID) 2019 pandemic that affected and hampered development, including government activities, the council asserted that the validity of the said agreement was twice extended with the latest to expire until March 2022 in order to give ample time for compliance of the group with the setback from the wide walks and in finding possible and suitable relocation sites for the said vendors and properties to continue pursuing their trade.

Earlier, representatives of the concerned group appeared before the previous regular session of the council to reiterate their appeal to further extend the validity of the aforesaid agreement until such time that concerned offices of the local government will be able to present the concrete plans in the ongoing implementation of the clearing of roads and sidewalks. – Dexter A. See