By RALPH JOHN MIJARES
ROXAS City – The city government has the responsibility to look after the vendors’ welfare, most especially those who are residents of the city, stressed one who does business in the vicinity of the Roxas City Integrated Transport Terminal.
According to this vendor who asked not to be identified, it would be a mistake for Mayor Alan Celino not to take care of the vendors, most especially those residing in the city.
“We are voters,” the vendors reminded Celino.
Vendors doing business at the Roxas City Integrated Transport Terminal are being moved away some 300 meters. Many fear this would adversely affect their sales.
Carmen Andrade, the city’s economic affairs consultant, has said ambulant vendors pose “unfair competition” to small traders leasing spaces at the terminal.
The rentals from stalls / kiosks are sources of income of the integrated terminal, which is an economic enterprise of the city, said Andrade.
Another vendor, Elsa (also not her real name), said the far distance of the vendors might discourage terminal passengers from looking for them.
May (not her real name), another vendor, denied itinerant vendors like her pose a threat to sellers with kiosks or spaces at the terminal.
“I only sell peanuts and balut,” she stressed.
May said she and other vendors like here are willing to pay a certain amount just so they could continue doing business in the vicinity of the terminal./PN
