Taguig City gov't says ambulant vendors prohibited during ECQ


The Taguig City government said ambulant vendors are barred from selling under the enhanced community quarantine (ECQ), which is in effect in the National Capital Region (NCR) until Aug. 20.

“For the safety of both the consumers and sellers, ambulant vendors are not allowed to operate during the implementation of the Enhanced Community Quarantine,” the Taguig Safe City Task Force posted on Facebook.

A community market in Taguig (Taguig City government)

This is based on Memorandum Circular 21-28 of the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) and the Safe City Task Force Advisory No. 49.

“Ambulant vendors or those plying goods on the road including taho, fruits, vegetables and other items are barred to go around this enhanced community quarantine (ECQ). Due to the rapid rise of cases in our locality brought about by the Delta variant, the movement of people is being limited to prevent the spread of the virus,” the task force added.

It warned those who will be caught may be issued tickets for violating Taguig City Ordinance No. 24 or the “New Normal Ordinance” and their goods will be confiscated.

Ambulant vendor Jufel Balderosa posted on Facebook Monday said they were asked when they were plying vegetables using a “kariton” (wagon) on M.L. Quezon Street in Taguig.

“Habang naglalako kami at nagtitinda ng gulay, tulak ang kariton along M.L.Quezon st. Sinita po kami, Hinintuan ng sasakyan ... Nagtanung naman po sila kung taga-saan kami? Sinagot po namin ay taga Lower Bicutan kami. At hinahanapan kami ng Qurantine pass, at pinakita naman po namin nagpakita pa rin kami ng Vaccine Card , Pero ang salita po nila , ‘Bawal na kaming magtinda sa Kalsada. Kahit may vaccine ay pwedeng ring mahawa ng COVID!” she wrote.

She added, “Pinagbabawalan na kaming magtinda at maglako! Samakatuwid, bawal na kaming mag hanapbuhay sa paraang alam namin!”

“Kung babawalan po kaming mga ambulant vendor, paano po ang pang araw-araw naming gastusin, pangangailangan? Paano ang mga bayarin namin? Kuryente, tubig etc.? Hindi naman po namin pwedeng iasa sa gobyerno ang mga bagay na yan! Sana naman, kaming mga ambulant vendor ay bigyan ng konsiderasyon na makapaghanapbuhay. Kaming mga nawalan ng trabaho at pagkakakitaan,” she added.

As of Aug. 15, Taguig added 177 new COVID-19 cases to bring the total active cases to 1,304, an increase of 314 cases from 990 active cases last Aug. 9. The city has 32,488 confirmed cases, 30,902 recoveries, and 282 deaths.

The Department of Health (DOH) detected five Delta variant cases in Taguig as of Aug. 5.

Taguig has vaccinated 530,734 individuals with the first dose, or 78 percent of the target population of 680,000, as of Aug. 15. There are also 275,276 individuals who are now fully vaccinated.