A better life for vendors is being sought.
In a proposed ordinance which passed first reading during the July 8, 2024 legislative meeting, Councilor Leandro Yangot has sought to provide protection of vendor livelihood as well as the registration and regulation of street vending and market spaces.
Yangot said “A balance between the law and the right of vendors and their livelihood must be achieved as street vendors are vital sectors of the economy, creating their own decent and lawful way of employment, vending cheaper merchandise thus helping low-income familir=es to sustain their daily needs and assisting in the expansion of local investments;
The new law, dubbed as the ‘’Vendors Welfare Ordinance’’ covering all vendors doing business primarily within the territorial jurisdiction of the City of Baguio.
Under the proposed law, the Market Management Office (MMO) shall conduct a survey and inventory of all existing street vendors and vendor associations in the City with a registration shall be carried out at least once in every two years.
The MMO will be tasked to ensure all qualified street vendors identified in the survey, are registered and accommodated in the vending zones or areas of business in accordance with the plan for street vending and the holding capacity or the maximum number of vendors in an area.
Registered vendors will enjoy programs like (a) capital loans, (b) basic training in trade, (c) scholarship grant to qualified heirs of the vendor, (d) guaranty or insurance protection, and such other programs that aims to improve the well-being of registered street vendors. Within six (6) months from the effectivity of this Ordinance, the MMO shall come up with a one (1) year plan for the implementation of approved programs for registered vendor privileges.
Vendors selling wet goods like meat, fish and poultry, cooked food, fresh produce, non-food items, dry goods and those offering services will also be categorized with stationary vendors defined to have portable tables, baskets, kiosks while mobile vendors described to wheeled, carried like the taho, puto and bread rovers.
Street vendor will be made to sign an undertaking which details the following;
- The vendor shall carry on the business of vending himself or through any of his family member
- That vendor has no other means of livelihood
- That the vendor shall not transfer in any manner whatsoever the Vending Permit or the vending slot specified therein to any other person.
- That the vendor is willing to surrender his Vendor’s Permit upon its expiry unless he has pending applications for renewal of Vendor’s Permit with proof of the same;
- That the vendor understands that street vending is a privilege and that it may be suspended or cancelled upon grounds stated in this Ordinance, or upon determination of the MMO;
- The vendor understands that the vending zone is government property and does not confer any proprietary right to them; and,
- That the vendor understands that the Vendor’s Permit does not confer a personal right to perform vending activities in perpetuity.
The proposed law will undergo 2nd and 3rd reading with required public consultations and publication. Maria Elena Catajan