The City Treasury Office is awaiting the executive order that will allow the collection of increased night market regulatory fees from the current P359 to P500 per vendor for one week of doing business along Harrison road.
City Treasurer Alex Cabarrubias stated that the collection of the increased regulatory fees from the night market will only be done when the executive order from the local chief executive shall have been issued
Earlier, the City Treasury Office reverted to the collection of the P350 weekly regulatory fees from the night market vendors following the issues and concerns that were raised against the increase of the same that took effect last March.
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.
Cabarrubias informed members of the local legislative body, during its regular session last May 16, 2022, 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 aforesaid 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 which was higher compared to the previous P350 regulatory fees that had been collected from the vendors over the past several years.
The night market groups that sent separate letters to the local 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 Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic that is why it is still best for the city to maintain the P350 weekly regulatory fees that are being collected from them.
At present, there are 12 groups of night vendors that are participating in the city’s night market operations where the same are doing business 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 city treasurer claimed that while there was an earlier agreement between the vendors and city officials on the increase in the regulatory fees that will be collected from the operation of the night market, the same must be embodied in an executive order that shall be issued so that his office will have the basis to collect the prescribed amount.
The night market operation has been one of the major tourist attractions in the city since the same was transferred along the stretch of Harrison Road because of the availability of affordable items that are sold by the participating vendors.