ILOILO City Mayor Jose Espinosa III assures the safety and precautionary measures are set for the celebration of annual Jaro Agro-Industrial and Charity Fair on February 2.
Last year, the event has been the cause of traffic congestion after the city government ordered the partial closure of the roads to allow the kiosks and stalls to accommodate the area. It appears that almost half of the road was consumed by the said structures.
The fiesta is to the honor the Patron Saint of Jaro, the Nuestra Señora Dela Candelaria.
Espinosa prohibited the selling of “ukay-ukay” inside the plazas in compliance to Republic Act 4653 known as “an act to safeguard the health of the people and maintain the dignity of the nation by declaring it a national policy to prohibit the commercial importation of textile articles commonly known as used clothing and rags.”
As of now, the stalls and kiosks accommodated again the same area as part of fiesta celebration.
“Indi gid ko ya gusto nga sa plaza kay ang plaza indi na ‘ya para sa mga perya-perya (I don’t want that inside the plaza because the plaza is not for funfair),” Espinosa said.
The traffic plan was already deliberated by the city government with the Transportation Management and Traffic Regulation Office last year.
“Ginsunod ta lang last year nga ang mga everything nga mga perya outside the plaza. Amu na aton direction (we followed the last year’s order that everything will be set-up outside the plaza. That was our direction),” he said.
Espinosa also issued the Executive Order No. 801 to permit the event and designate a manager to coordinate, organize, and manage the said affairs. Barangay captain of Balantang of Jaro district Jerel Agilles was appointed on the position.