Dumaguete Tourism Officer Jacqueline Veloso-Antonio defended the policy adopted by the City administration regarding the new regulations and the imposition of fees, to ensure a “tidy and orderly” trade fair which runs until Jan. 8, 2017.
Some of the new rules and regulations that will be strictly imposed include: 1) Goods and merchandise such as illegal drugs, pirated compact disks, pornographic materials, alcoholic beverages, and tobacco products are strictly prohibited from being displayed or sold; 2) Stalls selling ukay-ukay (used clothes) are required to either hang or fold them neatly; 3) No drinking or smoking is allowed in the booths; 4) Flammable or combustible materials are banned; 5) The stall and its surroundings must be kept in sanitary condition at all times; 6) Sub-leasing of any part of the stall is strictly prohibited; 7) Only one person is allowed to stay in the booth overnight as bantay (watchman); 8) Cooking of meals and washing of utensils in the booth area are prohibited.
City Treasurer Cristina Merced also admitted that while the rent of each of the 107 stalls along Burgos St. may seem exhorbitant at P25,000, the rates are in accordance with a City Ordinance.
She said the estimated collection of nearly P1.8 million will be kept in a trust that will be used solely to provide the traders their respective tents or stalls, electrical connections, sound system, and security for a little more than six weeks until Jan. 8 next year.
All stalls are required to open at 10 am, and to close by midnight throughout the duration of the trade fair.
Each lessee has been asked to sign an undertaking requiring them to conduct his business in accordance with the rules, under pain of banishment. Violation of the new guidelines will be disciplined through verbal warning, and could merit the tenant’s expulsion from the stall, with corresponding forfeiture of stall rental on third offense. (Dems Demecillo)
