DAVAO CITY—The city government here would begin issuing new identification cards, which has security and safety features, to venders of the night market along Roxas Avenue here.
The new IDs, which would have a quick response (QR) code system, would also indicate occupancy permit of sellers at the night market. The move is expected to heighten protection of the area after a crude bomb exploded in the same location in September last year.
Supporters or followers of the Maute Group 2017 were suspected to be behind the explosion to relieve the pressure on terrorist gunmen during the Marawi City siege.
Paul Bermejo, head of the Ancillary Services Unit, said the ASU would be the issuing office for the IDs.
Bermejo added each ID “will have a QR code system so we can know and ensure that the vendors are the ones operating in their assigned stalls.”
A QR code is a figure of arranged black squares that can be read by an imaging device such as a camera, and which contains information about the product.
Also recently, the police also required IDs from those who would enter the enclosed area of the avenue where food and used personal and household items were being sold in the makeshift stalls.
The “No ID, No Entry” policy was implemented immediately after bomb explosions in August and September in Isulan town, Sultan Kudarat.
“We should see this as a welcome development, knowing that danger is just around the corner,” Bermejo said. “It’s better to be safe and ready.”
He also assured night market goers of the safety in and around the area, with police and patrol cars roaming around the place.
“I hope that they don’t stop going to [the] night market. They should not worry because our security forces are ensuring the safety of the place.”