Ambulant vendors get 12-hour selling period

City's urban poor and vendors consultant Gerry Marquez yesterday said the city will strictly implement the 6 p.m. to 6 a.m. vending period for ambulant vendors in Carbon Market after stall owners complained that ambulant vendors selling infront of their stalls are affecting their sales.

In yesterday's meeting with close to 100 vendors in the mayor's conference room, Marquez said the city will create an independent task force to monitor violators and the vendors will be made to sign an agreement on the implementation of the vending period of the ambulant vendors.

Erwin Gok-ong, president of a group of stall owners in Carbon, raised his concerns that ambulant vendors selling infront of their stalls have direly affected their sales, and they are paying a higher rent compared to the ambulant vendors.

"Dugay na nang agreement on vending period pero wala gi-implement. Kung ato na ning ma-implemenent duna na gyud hapsay ang kadalanan," Marquez said.

Among the areas where the vending period will be implemented are the streets of Plaridel, V. Gullas and F. Gonzales and other streets in Carbon that have stalls.

"Kinahanglan sila motuman sa maong agreement kay almost five times ang among rent sa among mga stalls compared sa ilaha," Gok-ong said. If the ambulant vendors will not follow the agreed vending period, Gok-ong said he will demand that Marquez ban street vending in Carbon. - Garry B. Lao