BAGUIO CITY – The City Council approved on first reading a proposed ordinance providing for the registration of ambulant, roving, street and market vendors without legitimate stalls and establishing the policies and guidelines in the operations of vendors within the territorial jurisdiction of the city and for other purposes.
The ordinance authored by Councilor Leandro B. Yangot, Jr. provided all ambulant, roving, street and market vendors and peddlers without legitimate stalls shall register with the Baguio City Market Authority (BCMA).
Under the proposed local legislative measure, the BCMA Technical Working Group (TWG) shall subsequently screen and recommend qualified vendors who will be allowed to pursue their trade in the different parts of the city.
Further, the BCMA TWG shall be composed of the Chairman of the City Council Committee on Market, Trade, Commerce and Agriculture as Chairperson, with the City Public Order and Safety Division (POSD) head, President of the Ligangmga Barangay, City Environment and Parks Management officer and Market Superintendent, as members.
The ordinance stated among the documentary requirements that must be presented by the applicants for registration include voters certification indicating that the applicant is a registered voter of the city, barangay certification that the vendor is a resident of the barangay where he or she vends; provided, however, that the vendor has resided in the barangay for six months prior to registration, BCMA certification that the vendor is not a registered lessee of any stalls in the public market, satellite market within the city and night market, medical clearance stating that the vendor is fit to sell and certification issued by the BCMA-TWG certifying that the vendor has substantially complied with the documentary requirements for registration.
On the other hand, the ordinance cited among the rights and privileges of the registered vendors include preference in the selection of applicants for permanent or temporary stalls in the public market and in satellite markets, preference in the selection of occupants of temporary stalls or areas available for vending within or outside the central business district, preference in the selection of beneficiaries of other grants, services and benefits enjoyed by regular lessees in the public market and in the satellite markets and right to organize for a better representation and management.
The ordinance specified the products that must be sold by the vendors that include dairy products, peanut products, fruits and vegetables, either fresh or cooked, belt and other leather products, sun glasses, silver jewelleries, dried fish products, native cakes, pastries and other bakery products, hot and cold drinks, non-alcoholic beverages to include soft drinks and mineral water, ice cream products, cooked meals, soy beans products, pork cracklings or chicharon and boiled eggs or balut.
The registered vendors are not allowed to sell tobacco products, alcoholic beverages.
The local government reserves the right to identify the possible vending areas and the areas that are prohibited from the conduct of vending activities.
By Dexter A. See
