December 1, 2023

Newspaper stands, watch repair proprietors as well as peanut and corn vendors will be allowed to renew their special business permit provided that they are compliant to the 0.6 meters setback so as not to obstruct walkways.

The city council adopted Resolution 382, s. 2023 requesting Mayor Benjamin Magalong to extend the validity of the agreement of the Permits and Licensing Division and newspaper stand vendors, vendors and watch repair proprietors from July 2023 to December 2023 until such time that the City Planning, Development, and Sustainability Office has come up with concrete plans and arrangements for their relocation.

The mayor signed the resolution on July 4.

This arrangement between the city and the newspaper stands, vendors and watch repair proprietors has been going on since 2021 with special permits renewed every six months per city council resolution.

Issuance of a city council resolution is required as a win-win solution to the provisions of Memorandum Circular 2020-145 of the Department of the Interior and Local Government mandating local government units and the Department of Public Works and Highways to implement the national sidewalk recovery program.

Fifty-three newsstand vendors, watch repair and locksmith stand operators have been benefiting from this arrangement. – Jessa Mardy P. Samidan