DESPITE stricter implementation of regulation at the Roxas Night Market, some vendors are allegedly continuing to sub-lease their stalls to others.
City Assistant Administrator on Operations lawyer Lawrence Bantiding said the city is monitoring stalls daily to check if vendors operating are those registered to them.
"We are strict sa tenants due to some allegations na naa tay awardees na ipinagbibili ang mga position nila over to other stalls (We are strict with our tenants due to some allegations that there those who are selling their spot to others)," Bantiding said in an interview with SunStar Davao on Thursday, May 2.
He said owners registered must be physically present during business hours at the night market.
"Naa mi policy na if three successive days na dili ikaw naa didtoa, that is an evidence na pinagbili mo na mismo stall (We have a policy wherein if for three successive days you are not physically present during the inspection, that is already an evidence that you sold your stall to somebody else)," Bantiding said.
These were among the violations the vendors committed that led to its temporary closure in 2016, as ordered by Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio.
Other violations include refusal to follow the one family-one-stall rule, following their preferred locations, presence of stalls that are run by financiers but managed by dummies, and the vendors who claimed they were able to buy or secure rights or permits over their preferred stalls, insisting on selling their products even if they are not included in the official list of allowed sellers.
"As much as possible, wala na dapat ing-ani nga trade. So if naa ing-ana nga reports sila nahibal-an, then help us by reporting, para ma-curtail na nga mga practices (As much as possible, these trades should have been stopped by now. If you see similar practices, then help us by reporting to curtail it)," Bantiding said.
Previously, the administrator recorded 3,000 stall applicants in the market. But he said the city cannot accommodate all vendors who intend to sell in the night market.
Bantiding said tenants will be reshuffled tentatively quarterly, with only 470 tenants to be accommodated. They will be only given three months to occupy.
"The idea is we will give due opportunity to everyone, na mabigyan ng opportunity to sell," he said.
The administrator also said beautification efforts had been done to attract more visitors. Recently, street lights were put up to make the market a tourist attraction.