Ban of food vendors at Capitol questioned

Employees at the Legislative Building of the Provincial Capitol are questioning the ban imposed on ambulant food vendors.

For the past two days, the employees reportedly had to go out to buy food for lunch and snacks because at least four of the regular food vendors who come during break periods were reportedly apprehended by the blue guards and their wares confiscated.

"Instead of going out to buy food, time is saved since these vendors deliver to us the food themselves. We are also able to avail of a P15 to P25 lunch," an employee said.

Employees from the Provincial Secretary's office said disallowing vendors from coming in would have been reasonable if there was a canteen concessionaire in the building.

The FREEMAN was able to talk to one of the head guards assigned at the legislative building and confirmed the incident which was in pursuant to the orders of Governor Gwendolyn Garcia's brother, Byron, the consultant on security.

The employees reacted since Byron is from the Office of the Provincial Governor or the Executive Department, but has extended his power to the Legislative Department.

Byron was yesterday unavailable for comment, but an official of the Civil Security Unit said that though the legislative building is a separate entity from the executive, the said building is still under the whole Provincial Capitol compound.

He said Byron was appointed consultant on security for the whole Capitol compound that also includes the Palace of Justice.

The official however said the food vendors are still allowed to enter until the receiving area at the ground floor. Customer-employees will just be called to claim the food.