City suspends hike in night market fees

The City Treasury Office suspended the implementation of the increase in the fees paid by night market vendors along Harrison Road following concerns raised by the affected vendors on the timing of the said regulatory fees.

Earlier, the city council passed Resolution No. 176, series of 2022, which requested the City Treasury Office for a status quo on the collection of weekly night market fees.

City Treasurer Alex Cabarrubias informed members of the local legislative body, during its regular session last Monday, that the office reverted to the collection of the P350 weekly night market fees from the participating vendors that took effect last May 9, 2022 in response to the resolution and the clamor of the night market vendors.

Last March 14, 2022, the city started collecting P500 weekly night market fees from the participating vendors from the previous P350 regulatory fees collected from the vendors over the past several years.

The night market groups that sent separate letters to the city government requesting the deferment of the increase in night market fees claimed that the vendors are still recuperating from their heavy losses brought about by the Corona Virus Disease (COVID) 2019 pandemic that is why it is still best for the city to maintain the P350 weekly regulatory fees being collected from them.

At present, there are 12 groups of night vendors participating in the city’s night market operations on an alternate basis as part of the implementation of the minimum public health standards to contain the spread of the deadly virus that might cause another surge in cases.

The night market operation has been one of the major tourist attractions in the city since its transfer to a stretch of Harrison Road because of the availability of affordable items sold by the participating vendors. – Dexter A. See