SOME 135 Central Market vendors and members have taken action for a common cause through the cleanup initiative organized by (LBCVA) Libertad, Burgos, and Central Market Vendors (LBCVA) Association on Sunday, September 5.
Despite the challenges brought by the coronavirus disease (Covid-19) pandemic, they went around and marched the whole market area with their white shirt-uniforms, garbage sacks, and brooms. Fully masked and shielded, they were ready to rally for change.
They have sent a formal letter to the market supervisor and barangay council to organize such activity to avoid disruption of business operations in their area.
Ernesto "Jojo" Moyani, president of LBCVA, has been working together with the LBCVA vice president Adelyn Alfarito, Burgos Market president Lyn Dela Paz together with Partido Kalikasan (PK).
In collaboration with Eco Entrepreneurial Greens Communities Inc. (EEGCI), the group recognizes the effective use of a two-legged approach to forward and institutionalize genuine change for the basic sectors.
PK's legislative agenda focus is to lobby on issues like national growth through sustainable development, climate change adaptive and disaster risk resilient mechanism, state recognition, and support to informal economy workers.
The objective of realizing the long-term effectiveness of localized responses in attaining sustainability despite the current Covid - 19 challenges focusing on problems such as carbon emissions and comprehensive environmental protection shall be their priority. Also, climate change adaptation measures and disaster risk resilient mechanisms, looking into inter and intra-regional, as well as international collaboration that will advocate for education and awareness.
In coordination with the mission of PK, Moyani directed and organized the very first "Unity Clean-Up Drive" done in three major local public markets in Bacolod City.
Moyani expressed dismay as some people do not abide the Republic Act (RA) 9003, otherwise known as the Ecological Solid Waste Management Act of 2000.
So, they encouraged people to practice segregation at source, stressing that proper solid waste management should be conducted at the barangay level especially for biodegradable, compostable and reusable wastes.
Moyani and his family along with the other tenured vendors have been part of the local public market for decades already. With his 61 years of existence, he has not seen intense changes when it comes to building, reconstruction, and organization based on sections inside the market. The market situation has not been altered.
The lives and circumstances of our local vendors have not changed in years. Perhaps, with the ambitious goal of providing education and support to our vendors, the local government can establish concrete initiatives and projects that would better their situation.
For those in the informal sector, especially those who are not eligible for cash assistance and only rely on their daily income, it would enable them to survive the economic challenges brought by the prevailing pandemic.
With the Department of Budget (DBM)'s approval of P150-million assistance for the improvement and rehabilitation of three major public markets in the city, we hope that it will come to completion as it is one of the biggest single Local Government Support Funds allocated by the government to meet the sanitation standards and ensure public health and safety.
Moreover, the group has shared its grievances and voiced out their sentiments towards the local government, hoping that the latter could extend importance and support to the local vendors through environmental sustainability projects, livelihood seminars, and other effective programs in the future.
Part of its project planning is to provide a medical mission not only for local vendors but to the local community as well. Their goals also include providing micro and small entrepreneurs with livelihood seminars and educational talks on entrepreneurship especially on how to manage small businesses, expand profit and sustain livelihood.