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Wednesday, August 16, 2006
Dads won't craft pro-peddling ordinance
THE City Council has turned down the request of peddlers that Baguio should have a measure, mandating police to "tone down" the apprehension of illegal peddlers for humanitarian reasons.
"Your plight is the problem of politicians," Councilor Antonio Tabora Jr. told officers of the Federation of Baguio City United Vendors and Allied Workers (FBCUVAW), saying that the problem on illegal vending is besetting all local governments and not just Baguio.
Tabora said that accommodating illegal vendors would mean neglecting their duty to protect the plight of legitimate vendors as well. "Legitimate vendors cannot be compromised," he said.
The City Government imposes the "open door" and "white line" policies to vendors where they are allowed to sell in the market, particularly in spaces with white borderlines early in the morning and late in the afternoon.
Councilor Federico Mandapat Jr., for his part, hinted that illegal vendors are victims of politicians who, during the campaign period, promised that they would be allotted spaces in the public market, when in truth there is a national law that prohibits using sidewalks and public spaces for commercial purposes.
"You were merely issued a tolerance permit. Kung tutuusin, labag sa batas yan. Be thankful you were issued a tolerance permit," he explained, stressing that they were accommodated by the past and present administrations in recognition of the fact that they have families to feed and their only source of livelihood is by peddling goods.
Councilor Daniel Fariñas, chairman of the City Council committee on market, trade and commerce, meantime, clarified that measures are being done in addressing the plight of affected vendors within their ranks. However, the lack of space where they can be relocated deters the night market plan.
He said the identified relocation and "bagsakan" sites of the group have long been occupied by other vendors and the only remaining spaces where they can sell are in the barangays.
Councilor Leandro Yangot Jr. urged the group to help out in locating alternative sites where they could sell.
The Anti-Peddling Task Force was told to submit to the City Council an inventory of the total number of apprehensions made since July 2004 to the present, while the FBCUVAW was advised to submit to the Office of the City Administrator a listing of its members. (RO)
(August 16, 2006 issue)
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