Agdao ambulant vendors urged to make way

THE Davao City Ancillary Services Unit (ASU) has called upon all ambulant vendors to avoid displaying their goods in the vicinity of the Agdao Public market which is currently undergoing renovations.

ASU Head Paul Bermejo, in an interview with the media on Monday, said that 78 individuals from the Agdao Ambulant Vendors were made to leave the spaces they have been illegally occupying for getting in the way of the construction work in the area.

Concerns for the growing number of ambulant vendors in Agdao were also expressed by the legitimate vendors of the public Market.

Registered stall owners worry that unregistered vendors will not leave once the renovated public market resumes normal operations.

“Pag i-open na na siya, kadtong mga legit na mga stall owners sa sulod sa market mamalik na man to sila. Tapos, dili man pwede na naa sila sa gawas kay sigurado magreklamo man pud na sila (Once this opens, the legitimate stall owners in the market will start selling again. Ambulant vendors will not be allowed to sell outside because complaints will be filed),” Bermejo said.

The ASU regularly conducts clearing operations in the area, but ambulant vendors return once personnel from ASU leave.

The group of ambulant vendors had asked to be relocated to another area, particularly along the creek in Dacudao. Beremjo said Dacudao, as a main city road, is not ideal.

The Tiyangge sa Katawhan Management Team is looking for alternative spaces for displaced vendors to sell their products.

The ASU still allows vendors to occupy spaces in select sidewalks as long as they follow the 1/3 and 2/3 rule (a third of the sidewalk space occupied by a vendor, two-thirds for pedestrians). However, ambulant vendors will no longer be allowed to occupy sidewalks and roads that are newly constructed. /