Let’s Mind the Vendors
January 4th, 2009 by Ishmael AhabIllegal street vending is a perennial problem in Metro Manila. Illegal vendors and their thatched-up stores occupy parts of the streets and deny pedestrians in using the sidewalks. They also occupy many busy pedestrian overpasses, making it hard for people to pass through. The blockage caused by the illegal vendors results to build-up of traffic and generates tons of garbage every day.
The MMDA and city authorities solve this problem by removing the thatched stores off the streets. They do these clean-up operations for so many times but their efforts were fruitless. Their efforts had been in vain because many local authorities allow such build-up of illegal stores. Some of the policemen and barangay officials collect “tong” money from illegal vendors. These same authorities are the one who warn the vendors of oncoming clean-up operations. Another reason why the MMDA was not successful is the fact that the vendors do not have another ways of earning a living. So day-by-day, they defy laws against illegal vending just to earn some money to keep their families alive.
In the middle of the illegal street vending problem are the pedestrians, the motorists, and the vendors. The first two groups require that the streets be cleaned from any obstructions. The last group needed the streets for their illegal vending because the streets is much closer to the hordes of customers and the rent is just a modest “tong” to certain authorities. So far, the MMDA only answers the problem through the pedestrians and motorists point of view.
I believe that a compromise should be made regarding this problem. Instead of demolishing all illegal stores, it is better for the MMDA or city governments to reconsider some areas where street vending should be allowed. MMDA or city governments should regulate street vending in those areas, legalize the vendor’s stay, and make the set-up more orderly to allow the steady flow of traffic. In return, the MMDA or the city government will be the ones that will collect the rental fee from the vendors. This solution allows the vendors to keep their stalls and remove the control of the streets from the hands of shady government officials.
As for the pedestrian overpass, MMDA should construct it wide enough and build stalls on either side of the bridge. The stalls will then be rented off to street vendors. The vendors will then be tasked to keep the bridge clean.
I believe that these schemes are viable and will make Bayani Fernando’s image better in the eyes of illegal vendors.
January 4, 2009 at 1:51 pm
Unless the vendors get beaten up in the middle of a golf course, i don’t think the Middle Class will care. On the matter of demolition, the Middle Class Conventional Wisdom will side with Bayani Fernando.
January 4, 2009 at 2:55 pm
cvj,
Ishmael’s proposals are actually nice. Whether the Middle Class cares or not is beside the point — this time, it’s much more advantageous to think of the situation in terms of politicos, e.g., a populist proposal such as Ishmael’s might actually be pogi-points for BF *and* Metro Manila LGUs. The model might even be applied elsewhere in the country.
A side-issue here is the fact, however, that vendors are illegal not because they are vending in the street, but because they are not registered businesses that pay taxes and do not issue receipts. Perhaps this could be addressed by a similar proposal?
January 4, 2009 at 3:47 pm
Jon, i agree with you that Ishmael’s proposal is very nice.
January 5, 2009 at 1:37 am
Street vendors should at all cost be banned. BF is correct in dismantling these eyesores and traffic hazards.
Traffic is one of the factors that drags down the economy. Loss of man hours for people who got stucked in traffic and the tons of fuel lost from thousands of engines idling while waiting for the green light to go and for vendors and pedestrians to clear the already clog streets.
January 5, 2009 at 7:54 am
jcc,
That’s precisely the reason we have to find ways to legitimize their operations: find areas where they indeed can vend whilst finding ways to ease traffic up at the same time.
January 5, 2009 at 3:21 pm
Good suggestion. Cheap rental for stalls in strategic locations and business protected by law should be a good draw for any entrepreneur.
Indeed, let’s mind the vendors. Promote legit entrepreneurship.
January 5, 2009 at 6:11 pm
It’s the Tragedy of the Commons.
January 11, 2009 at 11:53 am
JCC,
Kaya nga aayusin natin ang current set-up ng mga street vendors. Sa panahon ngayon na tag-hirap, it is better that the government help these people. Pangit ‘yung dole out system na patakaran ni Gloria. I think that giving them affordable but legitimate business is the key to lift the self esteem of these people.
Ang kalsada ay para lang ba talaga sa mga pedestrians at motorista. Let’s not be too strict on the use of the streets. Hindi naman lahat ng kalsada ay lalagyan ng mga street vending activities. Some parts of it lang.
October 15, 2009 at 2:20 pm
What is the government’s philosophy on development. By their actions of demolishing the informal settlers and shunning “illegal vendors” they obviously want to mould a society beneficial mainly to the elite and middle class with utmost disdain and dislike for the poor. Street vending is the poor’s means of livelihood. The entrepreneurial poor need to be nurtured and helped. Look at Bangkok, Thailand. China, Hongkong, India, Malaysia and Indonesia have strong street vending cultures. Are we copycats of the development models of the west like the US and Europe where street vending are minimal and discouraged?
An urban planner commented in ANC that almost all of the plans for urban development in Metro Manila are geared towards the rich. Projects like the Fort Bonifacio Global City, the Manila Reclamation Project are government led/initiated with heavy participation of the private sector (i.e. big real estate companies). Not one project minds the needs of the poor. The anti-poverty agenda are merely palliative and promotes more dependency, not development.
There is a large urban poor population in Metro Manila. They are unquestionably part of our society. What are we going to do about it/them?