Photo from Marikina LGU
MANILA, Philippines — Fees charged on shoemakers and leather manufacturers for participating in Marikina City bazaars may soon be waived, the local government unit (LGU) officials said on Monday.
During the opening of the Marikina Christmas Shoe Bazaar at the city’s Freedom Park, which sits right in front of the Marikina City Hall, Mayor Marcelino Teodoro and his wife Marikina 1st District Rep. Marjorie Teodoro said waiving fees would help shoemakers recover from the economic woes brought by the COVID-19 pandemic.
Teodoro said it would be a big help since shoemakers have been affected by lockdowns due to the COVID-19 pandemic, as sourcing materials and finding buyers for their products have been hard to come by.
“Makakatulong ito dahil maipagpapatuloy nito ang mga bazaar natin ng walang dagdag na gastusin sa mga magsasapatos,” he said.
(This would be a big help to continue our bazaars without additional expenses to shoemakers.)
“Malaking bagay ito para sa employment dahil sa bawat sapatos na nabibili sa bazaar, may dalawa hanggang tatlong sapatero o manggagawa ang natutulungan na magkatrabaho. Hindi lang sa pagbebenta ng sapatos kundi sa pagbuo ng bagong merkado na meron tayo,” he added.
(This would be big for employment because for every shoe bought at the bazaar, there would be two to three shoemakers who would benefit from their jobs. So this affects the shoe industry and the whole market we have right now.)
Photo from Marikina LGU
Teodoro said his wife, Marikina Rep. Marjorie Teodoro, is finalizing a proposal that may be implemented by the start of 2023.
Rep. Teodoro said that she wishes that the bazaar would not only be conducted during the Christmas season.
“Yearly ito na Christmas shoe bazaar, pero gusto nga sana namin na gawing in perpetua, meaning habang buhay. Wala na talaga silang babayaran sa pwesto nila at the same time ang city na ang bahala sa gastos sa mga stalls at kung ano pa ang equipment na gagamitin habang sila ay nagtitinda ng mga sapatos,” she said.
(This shoe bazaar has been done yearly every Christmas, but we want to do it in perpetua, meaning for life. So that they would no longer need to pay any charges with the city shouldering fees for stalls and other expenses that would be incurred while they are selling shoes.)
“Talagang gusto ng city na i-revive yung pagawa ng sapatos—mas palakasin. At ito ay isa lamang doon sa hakbang na iyon. The more na may negosyo tayo, mas maganda para sa Marikina,” she added.
(The city wants to revive the shoemaking industry and make it even stronger. This is just one of the steps needed for that. The more business that we have, then it would be better for Marikina.)
Mayor Teodoro also signed City Ordinance No. 191 Series of 2022 during the opening of the bazaar — a directive titled “Ordinance Granting Exemption to members of the Philippine Footwear Federation Incorporated from paying the rental fees on the use of shoe exhibition stalls at the Freedom Park during the 2022 Sapatos Festival,” which seeks to also help shoemakers.
Photo from Marikina LGU
According to the officials, the Christmas shoe bazaar at Freedom Park would be open from Monday to Sunday at 9:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m.
Mayor Teodoro hopes people looking for gifts this Christmas season would consider products from the city, as they are durable and proudly locally made.
“Buy local, go local para makatulong tayo hindi lang sa produktong meron tayo, kundi higit sa lahat para sa trabaho ng ating mga kababayan,” he noted.
(Buy local, go local so that we can help people who sell our products and support the employment of our fellow Filipinos.) With reports from Trisha Manalaysay, trainee
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