ILOILO City – The proposed ordinance limiting the vending hours of ambulant vendors in this city may not prosper.
Councilor Johnny Young’s proposed measure seeks to restrict street food vending, especially ambulant vending, only from 5 p.m. to 5 a.m.
But Councilor Rudolph Ganzon, chairman of the Sangguniang Panlungsod (SP) committee on trade, commerce and industry, said they will instead focus on strengthening the existing Regulation Ordinance 2012-402 or “An Ordinance Regulating the Operation of Ambulant Stores in the City of Iloilo” by incorporating more regulations involving ambulant vendors.
Ganzon noted that last week, his committee also held a hearing on the proposed amendments to the aforementioned regulation ordinance, specifically on health and sanitation aspect, and it appeared on both hearings that regulating vending was more favored.
“Ina ang rekomendasyon naton…strengthen the existing ordinance,” he said.
Imposing a time limit on vending is not necessary, stressed Ganzon.
“With the existing ambulant ordinance, dira na lang ta ma-strengthen. We will consolidate all suggestions,” he said.
Meanwhile, Young clarified he only based his proposed ordinance on the existing practice being imposed by the Special Services Division (SSD) under the Public Safety Transportation and Management Office (PSTMO) which allowed ambulant vendors to start selling their products from 5 p.m. onwards.
“Clarify ko lang sa mga vendors, ang 5 p.m. to 5 a.m. ila na sang SSD nga suggestion kag gina-practice na na ninyo beforehand. Subong, kon gusto niyo ‘ya mag-ayo nga i-adjust, open man ina ang SSD. Napabalo ko lang, ngaa nag-react kamo nga ginapunggan kamo 5 p.m. kay amo naman na gina-practice n’yo kada adlaw,” he said.
The councilor also explained that he came up with the proposed measure because there were vendors complaining that others were invading their selling areas.
“May mga strikers sa inyo mga pwesto. Pagbalik niyo wala na kay may naga-occupy na nga iban,” Young said.
Ganzon, on the other hand, as verified by SSD, said the 5 p.m. onwards practice has no legal basis and there is no existing ordinance which could be the basis for implementing it.
“Kagina klaro ang hambal sang SSD, wala legal basis, that’s why we really put on record wala sila basis but those are just suggestions nga maging okay man sa tanan. It is not something that if you don’t follow, mabayolar ka. Wala kita legal basis, not an ordinance, not even part of the existing ordinance. Meaning kon pwede naton ini ma-regulate tanan – ang katinlu and orderliness, among others, without touching the time nga makabaligya – ina ang strong naton nga kampanya nga makabaligya sila,” Ganzon explained.
He said he will consolidate everything and will make a committee report. There will be no more second hearing, he added.
Mary Grace Pareja, a balut vendor, is thankful that they are given a chance to air their concerns.
“Pasalamat gid kami kon i-consider na tanan ang amon mga suhestiyon. Bulig gid na tanan sa amon kay ginapati man namon kon ano ang ginahambal sa amon,” she added./PN
