Councilor backs peddlers' right to sell

Wednesday, June 1, 2011

A BAGUIO City councilor passed an ordinance that aims to empower peddlers, saying they too deserve to sell in stalls rent out by the City Government.

Councilor Edison Bilog said peddlers have to be registered, should organize themselves and be given priority in using stalls for lease in case a stall is vacated.

Have something to report? Tell us in text, photos or videos.

He proposed the creation of a local council on the security of registered vendors.

The council will be headed by the mayor and will be composed of the city administrator, the chairperson of the City Council committee on market, planning and development officer, city police director, two representatives of a vendors association, city treasurer and the environment and parks management officer as members.

Bilog said the registered vendors will enjoy security in the workplace and will not be arbitrarily deprived of their workplaces.

He said vendors should not be deprived of their livelihood by being ejected and their stalls, demolished.

He added that in the event the market undergoes complete rehabilitation, those who were assigned stalls and peddlers should be given priority.

In the same proposal, the City Government will be responsible for the relocation of displaced vendors.

In registering vendors, the councilor proposed for the issuance of identifications cards to peddlers, who, on the other hand, will be responsible in maintaining cleanliness, ensuring unobstructed traffic flow, providing calibrated weighing scales, selling products that are of good quality and policing their own ranks.