CEBU, Philippines — The Division for the Welfare of the Urban Poor is extending the registration of sidewalk vendors until the middle of March to pave way for vendors who failed to register last January and February.
DWUP operations head Genevieve Alcoseba urged the vendors to secure temporary permits from the city government within the extension period; otherwise they will no longer be accommodated.
She said securing the permits from her office is in preparation for the implementation of the identification card system where only accredited vendors with IDs are allowed to sell their goods in the streets.
“So palihug lang, sa wala nagpakabana kung until second week sa March, mao ang last paglukat og temporary approval for the year 2019. After the temporary approval issuance, magsugod na ang DWUP sa pag-issue sa ginatawag nato nga ID sa vendors,” Alcoseba said.
Starting this year, the city government wants to implement the ID system where only registered sidewalk vendors are allowed to display their merchandise in the city’s streets.
Alcoseba said Mayor Tomas Osmeña directed her to enforce such a scheme to profile vendors and for orderly trading.
“Naa nata’y gi-create nga ID system, usa sa direksyon ang gusto ni mayor; zero growth. Ang vendors nga existing atoang atimanon unya dili napud dungagan kay atoang tagaan og konsiderasyon ang general public nga wala’y maka-obstruct sa dalan,” she said.
In 2018, the mayor began to conceptualize the ID system that is why he wanted to implement it this year so that the vendors will be organized.
Based on their initial record, there are around 3,000 sidewalk vendors in the city. These vendors selling street food, junk food, cigarettes, candies, and other products.
However, Alcoseba cannot yet provide a definite number of the vendors who secured temporary permits as of press time.
Upon securing permits, vendors have to submit a voter’s certification, or any valid ID, and pay the P40 registration fee.
“Kinahanglan ka naa ka’y health card, if food imohang baligya like tempura, kwek-kwek, ug unsa pa. Pero if chichiria, ID ra,” Alcoseba said.
Further, she said the city government will prioritize vendors who are residents of the city.
“Mao lang na, usa sa gi-promote, priority ang kaugalingon nga constituents, mao na voter’s certificate or ID and health card if food,” Alcoseba said.
Those who fail to get a temporary permit from the DWUP, can have their merchandise confiscated by the Prevention, Restoration, Order, Beautification, and Enhancement team.
The PROBE team, headed by Raquel Arce will randomly roam around the city to monitor the operation of sidewalk vendors.
“This is the last time, so magpasensya’ay nalang ta og dili mo makaparehistro for temporary approval dili na atoang sala,” Alcoseba said. — BRP (FREEMAN)