Vendors in Metro Manila Christmas bazaars must be fully vaccinated — MMDA

(FILE) At Manila’s Dapitan district, it’s already Christmas. Tucked in one of its business hubs is a web of streets and alleys lined with stalls and bazaars selling Christmas trees, mechanical Santas, miniature scenes of the Nativity, and an array of twinkling lights. PHOTO: CRISTINA MENINA FOR THE STRAITS TIMES

MANILA, Philippines — Vendors and other personnel involved in bazaars, tiangges (flea markets) and pop-up stores in Metro Manila this Christmas season must be fully vaccinated against COVID-19.

The Metro Manila Council (MMC), through a resolution furnished to the media on Thursday, requires all traders, salespersons, exhibitors, organizers, and other personnel to be fully vaccinated prior to their actual conduct of Christmas bazaars, tiangges, and pop-up stores.

The resolution was approved and signed by the mayors of Metro Manila’s 16 cities and lone municipality (Pateros) on Monday, November 8.

The MMC noted that bazaars, tiangges, and pop-up stores have been identified as significant contributors to the spread of polio which led to an outbreak in 2019.

“In order to guard against exposure to and/or infection with the COVID- 19 virus similar to the September 2019 polio outbreak, there is a need to require all traders, salespersons, exhibitors, organizers, and other personnel to be fully vaccinated prior to their actual conduct of such Christmas bazaars, tiangges, and pop-up stores,” the resolution read.

Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) chairman Benhur Abalos, for his part, said vendors in bazaars should be vaccinated as they form part of a sector under the category of economic front liners.

“These will help reduce the risk of transmitting the virus since they are seasonal in nature and sellers come from various parts of the country making contract tracing difficult on the part of the local government units,” Abalos said in a statement on Thursday.

/MUF