LOCAL businesses and enterprises have set up shops for a two-week-long food and shopping fiesta in the village of Pasonanca, Zamboanga City as part of the Hermosa Festival celebration.

City Licensing Officer Benjie Barredo said the participating 33 food concessionaires and the 45 shops of the Smoke Out Zamboanga and Grand Midnight Sale will be in operation until October 12, 2019 as an open-air night life destination for residents and visitors.

Barredo said the food shops and merchant stalls are lined-up in the entire stretch of the Pasonanca pool and Aviary area, with an offering of grilled food options, an array of products and nightly entertainment.

He assured the residents of the presence of security forces in the area, strict implementation of security measures and the availability of parking spaces near the Pasonanca village hall.

Barredo also clarified that stall positions were determined via drawing of lots prior to the event's launch last Saturday, September 28 in coordination with the participating concessionaires.

For the Smoke Out Zamboanga and Midnight Sale, concessionaires were charged for the 15-day duration while the travelling merchants were charged for the entire month of October with the local government shouldering infrastructure and utility costs for stalls.

A total of 83 travelling merchants are participating in this year's Midnight Sale. (SunStar Philippines)