AT LEAST 186 vendors and 80 masseuses will be setting up shop for the reopening of the Roxas Night Market on March 24, 2022 after a two-year closure, according to the Public Safety and Security Command Center (PSSCC).
PSSCC head Angel Sumagaysay said during a press conference on Wednesday, March 23, the 186 vendors are divided into categories wherein 56 vendors are under the Food category, 65 for Ready-to-Wear (RTW), and 65 for Accessories.
Meanwhile, 80 masseuses will be offering their services during the opening but up to 100 can be catered in the coming days.
“We had a conversation with the vendors na na-swerte na sila ang unang makapag-display dira sa night market. Na-isa-isa na natin ang do’s and dont’s and hopefully mag abide sila sa atong guidelines (We had a conversation with the vendors who were luckily chosen to display during the reopening of the night market. We have enumerated the do’s and don’ts and hopefully they will abide by the guidelines),” Sumagaysay said.
He added that more vendors may be allowed if the pilot opening of the night market goes smoothly.
As the local government office in charge of the operation of the Roxas Night Market, PSSCC said they have decreased the number of vendors allowed and each was picked via an open raffle system wherein interested vendors may submit an entry, including those who are not vaccinated.
“Hindi siya nakalagay doon sa guidelines (that vendors need to be vaccinated) but then we encourage (the vaccination) and we check naman (The mandatory vaccination was not stated in the guidelines but we encourage it and we also check the vendors’ vaccination status),” Sumagaysay said.
As of Wednesday, March 23, PSSCC does not have the data on the vaccination rate of the Roxas Night Market vendors.
Davao City Covid-19 Task Force spokesperson Dr. Michelle Schlosser said on Wednesday, March 23, the vendors are not required to be vaccinated since the City Government of Davao is not implementing a mandatory vaccination.
However, the observance of the basic minimum health protocols such as proper hand hygiene and wearing of face masks will be strictly implemented.
“Dili gyod sapilitan ang bakuna (We cannot force them to get vaccinated), we can only give them education and accurate information. We will continue to have dialogues with them to convince sila kung unsa ang importansya and benefit sa bakuna (them about the importance and benefit of the vaccine). Pero dili gyod nato sila i-discriminate na just because they are not vaccinated, dili na nila ma-enjoy ang privilege of going to the night market (But we will not discriminate them and prevent them from enjoying the night market just because they are not vaccinated),” Schlosser said, referring to both the vendors and visitors of the Roxas Night Market.
Meanwhile, Sumagaysay said PSSCC will deploy personnel to strictly implement security measures to ensure the safety of the vendors and customers, including the one entrance and exit policy and prohibition of wearing backpacks and jackets.
He said other local government agencies have been tapped to assist PSSCC regarding the operation of Roxas Night Market, including the City Transport and Traffic Management Office, City Environment and Natural Resources Office, City Health Office, and the Davao City Police Office, and Task Force Davao who will focus on terror threats.