Davao City – Davao City Mayor Inday Sara Duterte has set the re-opening of the Roxas Night Market next month for the vendors whose livelihood has been affected since the lockdown in March.
“Daghan ang mga vendors nato dinha nga kaniadto nga affected sa pagsirado tungod sa Covid-19 and we want them to resume sa ilahang livelihood (There are many vendors who are affected with the closure due to Covid-19 and we want them to resume their livelihood),” she said on Friday before Davao City Disaster Radio.
Mayor Sara said that the night market will initially operate with a capacity of 25 percent for food services, massage, and other goods to ensure physical distancing. The vendors will also be on a two-week rotation, to give them all the chance to have an income.
The mayor is also contemplating lifting the liquor ban in October. She previously announced the lifting of the ban next month but had second thoughts since the establishments serving liquor such as beerhouses are the least priority of the city right now.
“Under the list of the Department of Trade and Industry, bawal pa pud ang beerhouses, clubs and bars so least priority nato ang lifting sa liquor ban (beerhouses, clubs, and bars are still not allowed so the lifting of the liquor ban is our least priority),” she said.
However, Mayor Sara told workers, who are affected by the non-operation of these establishments, they can always ask for assistance from the City Social Welfare and Development Office.
She said that the city is taking one step at a time, first with the night market, and then the lifting liquor ban for Dabawenyos to practice health protocols especially in areas where people converge.
The mayor also wants to ensure there would be no mass transmission of the coronavirus.
(City Information Office)