Council backs newsstand extension

LEGISLATORS have backed the six month extension given to small businesses in city streets.

Councilor Mylen Yaranon in a resolution expressed the City council’s support to the agreement reached between the Baguio City Permits and Licensing

Division, City Mayors Office and the newsstand vendors and watch repair proprietors to extend for six months the stay of the latter in current locations before implementation of Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) memorandum.

The city in a compromise gave newsstand vendors and

watch repair proprietors time to comply with the 6-meter setback from the sidewalk or find relocation sites to do their business for 2021.

“The Permits and Licensing Division City - Mayors Office (PLD-CMO) intends to regulate newspapers stand vendors and watch repair proprietors on sidewalks of the city. They have been given until the end of the year to operate in their current locations. After that time, they will be treated an obstruction. The PLD-CMO is acting on a DILG memo circular 2020145 which mandates local governments to clear roads and sidewalks of obstruction,” the council said.

The legislative body acknowledged the move of the PLDCMO and the DILG has caused an uproar not only among newsstand vendors and watch repair proprietors but also among the ranks of local media practitioners and the general public of the city of Baguio.

“This is because these newsstands and watch repair stands have been a common sight in the city that, in its own unique way, is part of the spirit that defines the soul of Baguio City as a whole,” the council added.

The resolution was approved in a special session this week by the entire legislative body and said the body welcomes the development.