ILOILO City – The Sangguniang Panlungsod (SP) approved an ordinance amending several provisions of Regulation Ordinance No. 2012-402, which regulates the operation of ambulant stores in this city.
Authored by Councilor Alan Zaldivar, the amendments to sections 2, 3, 5, 6, 7, and 8 focused on food handling and sanitation.
“When it comes to sanitation, ang mga vendors kinanglan may ara sila protective gears like hairnet, gloves and apron or they should put on clean and decent clothes,” said Zaldivar.
The city dad pushed for additional regulations for ambulant vendors following cases of acute gastroenteritis and cholera here last year.
The approved measure specifically aims to protect the general public from food borne illnesses and food poisoning from street and junk food.
It will also help enhance consumer confidence, particularly those who patronize street and junk foods.
The ordinance also wants to inculcate among ambulant food vendors and peddlers the importance of and indispensability of food hygiene and sanitary practices, which thru the government regulations and education drives, will make their street and junk food enterprise safer.
“This is part also of promoting Iloilo City when it comes sa aton mga street food kay gusto naton include ini sya as part sang aton local tourism. That, if everybody outside Iloilo City would come here, at least ara ang ila ginatawag nga mapabilin ang ila tagipuso-on sa syudad sang Iloilo kay even sa street food naton diri sanitized, well-prepared,” said Zaldivar.
Under the ordinance, ambulant store owners and peddlers should comply the following:
* obtain a license plate from the Business Permits and Licensing Division (BPLO)
* Ambulant Store Plate shall be placed at the most visible portion of the ambulant store for proper identification
* ambulant food vendors and peddlers shall secure health card issued by the City Health Office (CHO) by presenting a valid identification card and the same shall be renewed every six months from issued date
* ambulant food vendors and peddlers be required to use sanitary gloves, hair nets, and apron every time they handle and prepare food items
* ambulant vendors and peddlers shall also be required to attend seminars/trainings conducted by the Local Economic Development and Investment Promotion (LEDIP) Office as part of their post requirement
Meanwhile, as penalty, ambulant vendors who will be caught without a license will get verbal warning for the first offense; P500 for the second offense; and P1,000 for the third offense.
Any ambulant vendor caught without a health card, sanitary gloves, and hairnet during food preparation shall be meted out a verbal warning for the first offense, P200 for the second offense, and P500 for the third offense.
On the other hand, the implementation of the ordinance will be carried out by the CHO, Business and Licensing Division, City Treasurer’s Office, and Public Safety and Transportation Management Office through its Special Services Division.
Zaldivar noted they will also involve the LEDIP to capacitate the vendors through training and workshops./PN
