DAVAO CITY (MindaNews / 25 Jan) – The management of the Davao City Overland Transport Terminal (DCOTT) in Ecoland here has declined the requests of around 300 peddlers to allow them to sell again inside the bus terminal amid concerns raised regarding enforcement of physical distancing to avoid transmission of coronavirus disease (COVID-19).
DCOTT manager Aisa Usop told Davao City Disaster Radio (DCDR 87.5) on Tuesday that that the peddlers from three vendor associations have not been allowed to sell their goods since the bus terminal reopened at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020.
She said the management feared the minimum public health standards (MPHS) might not be strictly followed when the peddlers would be allowed to roam around within the DCOTT.
Usop added that most of them peddle their goods – including durian candies, bottled waters, snacks, and eyewear – outside the gated bus terminal.
“They do not even know how to follow social distancing there outside. They would tail the passengers and force them to buy their goods.
We’re already having problem with enforcing social distancing outside our premises,” she said.
Usop said the terminal has only nine security personnel that ensure order is kept and MPHS is complied with.
“If we allow them inside, social distancing must be strictly followed these days because we are not yet out of this pandemic. They may say, why can’t the security guards watch over them?
We have 300 plus peddlers as against nine security guards who report on shift,” she said.
Usop added that the security guards watch over the entry and exit of buses.
