Street Vendors Against Clearing Operations 1

Chapter I
INTRODUCTION

Have you ever buy your necessities to sidewalk vendors? Or you merely look at them as

an annoyance in your way home? Are they liability or asset to the community?

In developing states of Southeast Asia such as our country, sidewalk vendors play a

significant but frequently unappreciated role in the informal economy. Yet, they are subject to

indiscriminate purges from sidewalks and other contested territories, which they occupy for lack

of provision of spaces in which they could otherwise do business. But such occurrences, and the

conflicts that may follow, can be addressed by revisiting policies, which seem anti-vendor or which

fail to comprehend their presence and needs. This research studied sidewalk vendors in the Litex

area, Barangay Commonwealth, Quezon City, framing their needs, issues and aspirations against

existing MMDA clearing operations.

According to Informal Economy Monitoring Study (IEMS) Sector Report in 2014, Street

vendors can be called small capitalist of the poor who are at the margins termed as illegal but are

hugely independent and entrepreneurial. They are an integral part of urban economies around the

world, offering easy access to a wide range of goods and services in public spaces. They sell

everything from fresh vegetables to prepared foods, from building materials to garments and crafts,

from consumer electronics to auto repairs to haircuts.

Sidewalk vendors are very important category of informal sector with specific issues and

challenges. One of these issues are the clearing operations and other local ordinances implemented

against the continuity of their occupation. This research aims to know the legal grounds of the
 Street Vendors Against Clearing Operations 2

MMDA in performing clearing operations against street vendors and the response of the latter on

the issue.

The researchers conducted an interview to Commonwealth Task Force (TCC) officials and

five randomly selected sidewalk vendors in the area to extend the knowledge about the dilemma.

In relation to Ethics, the study will measure the ethical and legal standard in the conduct of clearing

operations against sidewalk vendors.

CHAPTER II
STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM

The researchers aim to answer the following problems:

1. How do the MMDA in the local area execute their clearing operations?

2. How does the national law and city ordinances treat the sidewalk vendors?

3. What are the reasons why sidewalk vendors chose this line of work?

4. How do the sidewalk vendors respond in the MMDA clearing operations?

5. How does the ethical and lawful standard relative in the occurrence of clearing operations?
 Street Vendors Against Clearing Operations 3

CHAPTER III
CASE ANALYSIS

On February 1, 2019, 4:00 in the afternoon, the researchers went to Litex area, Barangay

Commonwealth, Quezon City to conduct interviews to the target respondents which are the

Commonwealth Task Force (TCC) Authorities and they also want to hear the marginalized

sidewalk vendors in the area. Luckily, the target respondents gave their permission to the

researchers in conducting a short interview about the clearing operations of MMDA against local

street vendors.

JESS DUMIGAN, a five year official of Commonwealth Task Force (TCC), uncover the

practice of how they performed the clearing operations and what are the legal grounds they hold

in the performance of the said act. According to him, every single day they caught a lot of vendors

disobeying the ordinance against selling of products in sidewalks. It is their duty to take all their

products and surrender it to barangay as a primary punishment to them than requiring them to pay

fines. They usually raid in the area around 4:00 in the afternoon, but sometimes they also raid as

early as 7:00 in the morning. This is to caught off guard the common violators which he said are

the sellers of vegetables. Sir Dumigan, together with the police officer named SPO2 Epito Galang,

explained the legal grounds of their job. According to them, At least two Supreme Court decisions

and a national legislation have declared street hawking as illegal. At the local level, the

Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) and the Quezon City government have

legal documents prohibiting street and sidewalk vending in Metro Manila and Quezon City,

respectively. However, at the national level, the Philippine Constitution implicitly provides

principles that support micro entrepreneurial initiatives such as vending. This is also explicitly

mentioned in other enabling national laws such as the Local Government Code of 1991 and the
 Street Vendors Against Clearing Operations 4

Executive Order 452, which specifically provides guidelines to ensure security of vendors in their

working areas. There are even laws specifying rules on how street vendors and their

representatives can be part of government structures. These include the Republic Act 8425 or the

Social Reform and Poverty Alleviation Act (1997), the Republic Act 7941 or the Party List System

Act, among others.

After having an interview to some of the officials of TCC, the researchers conducted an

interview have randomly selected five sidewalk vendors in the area, selling different products in

order for the researchers to know the story behind how they end up with their current occupation,

to identify the everyday situation they encounter such as MMDA clearing operations, and to

identify the ways in how do they cope up with it.

RACHEL, a 37-year-old street vendor of bloated fish (tinapa) for ten years now is able to

earn approximately 1,500 pesos in a whole day selling of her products in the street. Her husband

is the one who prepares the tinapa early in the morning. They have no choice but to make sure that

the 1,500 pesos profit each day is enough to support their six children and the daily expenses.

According to Rachel, she is aware that they are not allowed to sell tinapa in the street but this is

the only thing she knows she can do to earn money. Because as of her age, it is already hard for

her to employ in a proper job. She ends up as street vendor because they inherit the occupation

with his husband’s parents who sell tinapa at their time. In terms of there is a clearing operation,

she just put her bilao in the side to lose the attention of TCC officers but unfortunately, there are

instances that she has to surrender her products to them and go home empty-handed.

ALEX UNCAYAO, a 31-year-old slippers seller for 11 years’ now. He is a former

Overseas Filipino Worker (OFW) in Kuwait but when he came back here in the Philippines, he

decided to settle as a street vendor to support the need of his family. According to him, he usually
 Street Vendors Against Clearing Operations 5

earns a 1,000 pesos every day depending on the sales. This is quite enough to fed his wife and their

one child. Sir Uncayao stated that “...de bale nang maliit ang sweldo, ang mahalaga ay marangal

ang trabaho.” when we asked him how do he perceived his job as a street vendor. Furthermore,

he told us that the intensity of implementing the street policies depends on who is the authorizing

officer. According to him, during the time of Balmaseda Patiga, previous MMDA chairman, the

street policies are too strict that they cannot properly manage their selling. But as of now, the

clearing operations are very considerate to them as the authorities even let them get back the

confiscated products sometimes.

ARMANDO, a 46-year-old man selling toys for two years now. One year in Antipolo

where he originally lived, and tried as a tricycle driver also, and the other year here in Litex. He

earns about 1000-1500 pesos every day in selling toys enough to support himself since he does not

have a family. According to him, he does not yet experienced being caught by MMDA officers

but he wishes that there comes a day that he and the other street vendors may be allowed to legally

do their job where they can freely sell products without the fear of being caught by the authority.

TRAHIM & MIAL SULTAN, a married couple selling gadgets and other technological

devices in the footbridge in Litex. They are Muslims from Davao where they orginally sell

souvenirs. In a day, they just earn four hundred pesos because the other profit serves as a payment

for the bombay who they borrow their capital. A four hundred each day is not enough to support

their four children, given the fact that the two of them are going in school. But they have no choice

but to deal with it, and do all the frugality they can do to maximize their earnings. According to

them, they are always affected when there is clearing operation in the area. So instead of earning

money, they are actually spending money to cover up the borrowed money they used in their

products – “wala na ngang kita, lugi pa sa bayad sa Bombay.” For this reason, they wish to have
 Street Vendors Against Clearing Operations 6

a legal right to sell their products by scheduling system. For instance, 3:00 am in the morning up

to the 12:00 in the afternoon, they are free to conduct their markets.

Lastly, the researchers conducted a survey with (20) TWENTY SIDEWALK PASSERS

in Litex, Commonwealth, Quezon City. The researchers found out that street vendors helped the

local community to avail goods and services in a lower price conveniently than buying in malls

and supermarkets, this is because of the fact that aside from spending for transportation fare in

going back and forth in the market places, the expensive prizes are also take in consideration by

the local customers when buying in supermarkets. This gives an urban poor family an opportunity

to save money for their other necessities. However, despite of many positive feedbacks given by

respondents on street vendors, some still claiming that the quality and sanitation of products in

sidewalks are not secured. For an instance, street foods are cheap, delicious and easy to find but

this also causes diarrhea, vomiting and other illnesses. Aside from this, the number of street

vendors causes commotion to sidewalk passers and sometimes a reason in traffic congestions.
 Street Vendors Against Clearing Operations 7

TRANSCRIPT OF INTERVIEWS

MMDA OFFICER - JESS DUMIGAN

Angel: Pwede ko po kayong mainterbyu saglit?

MMDA 1: OK

Milcah: Ano pong pangalan nyo?

MMDA 1: Jess Dumigan

Rina: Gaano na po kayo katagal sa serbisyo?

MMDA: 5 taon

Rina: Lagi po ba kayong nakakahuli ng mga street vendors dito sa Litex?

MMDA 1: Para saan ba to?

Rina: Research Study po.

MMDA 1: Oo, araw-araw

Rina: Anong oras po kayo kadalasang nakakahuli ng street vendors?

MMDA 1: Depende.

Rina: May batas po ba na nagbabawal sa pagtitinda sa gilid ng kalsada?

MMDA: Oo, meron

 Street Vendors Against Clearing Operations 8

Milcah: Magkano po yung multa kung sakaling mahuli?

MMDA: Wala.

Milcah: Ano po yung parusa?

MMDA 2: Yung mga tinitinda at mga produkto nila makokompiska.

Rina: Kadalasan ano pong klaseng produkto ang nakikita nyong tinitinda nila?

MMDA: Kadalasan mga gulay.

Rina: Ano pong ginagawa niyo kapag ayaw nilang umalis sa pwesto nila? Ano po ang kadalasang

nangyayari?

MMDA: Sa ordinansa ng lungsod kinokonsidera sila na illegal kaya ipinagbabawal sila sa gilid ng

daan. Nagiging sanhi sila ng trapiko.

Rina: Nagbabayad po ba sila para sa pwesto nila sa pagtitinda?

MMDA: Oo naman, hindi kasi patas kung yung nasa loob ng pamilihan dito nagbabayad sila

hindi.

Rina: Pwede po ba naming malaman pangalan nyo?

MMDA 2: Epito Galang

Rina: Gaano na po kayo katagal sa serbisyo?

MMDA 2: 5 taon

Rina: Yun lang po. Salamat.

 Street Vendors Against Clearing Operations 9

TINAPA VENDOR - RACHEL

Angel: Pwede ba namin kayong ma-intervierview ma'am? Para sa school lang po. Hindi po kami

kukuha ng video.

Angel: Ano pong pangalan nyo? Ayos lang po kahit yung name lang.

Street vendor: Rachel

Denmer: Ilang taon na po kayo?

Street vendor: 37

Milcah: Ilang taon na po kayong nagtatrabaho bilang street vendor?

Street vendor: Matagal na panhaon na rin. Siguro mga nasa sampung taon.

Angel: Magkano po ang sahod na nakukuha nyo sa pagtitinda?

Street vendor: Karaniwan lagpas 1 500 pesos.

Angel: Magkano naman po ang inyong kapital?

Street vendor: Nasa 5 000 pesos.

Rina: 1 500 pesos po yung araw araw nyong sahod?

Street vendor: Oo. Ang kapital at Ang iba pang gastusin ay nabawas na.

Denmer : Iyong araw araw nito pong sahod ay sapat na sa pang araw araw na gastusin?

Street vendor: Oo

Rina: Ilan po ang anak niyo?

Street vendor: Anim.

 Street Vendors Against Clearing Operations 10

Rina: Sapat po ba ang kinikita niyo para sa pamilya niyo?

Street vendor: Kailangan naming pagkasuyahin iyon kahit na mahirap gawin.

Rina: Naghahanap-buhay po ba ang asawa niyo?

Street vendor: Oo. Siya ang nagluluto at naghahanda ng mga isda na ibebenta namin.

Denmer: Sarili niyo pong negosyo ito?

Street vendor: Oo, amin ito.

Denmer: Ano po ang nagtulak sa inyo para magtayo ng sarili niyong negosyo?

Street vendor: Namana namin ito galing sa mga magulang ng asawa ko.

Rina: Dito po kayo nagtitinda?

Street vendor: Oo.

Milcah: Nagbabayad po ba kayo ng up?

Street vendor: Hindi. Sa kuryente lang.

Rina: Naranasan niyo na po bang mahuli ng mga awtoridad dito?

Street vendor: Syempre. Noon nung nakapuwesto pa kami sa harap ng kalsada.

Rina: Eh dito po?

Street vendor: Hindi naman. Sinasabihan lang kami ni lumipat sa gilid.

Rina: Ano po ang mga benepisyo sa pagtitinda rito? Pumasok po ba sa isip niyo na maghanap ng

bagong trabaho?
 Street Vendors Against Clearing Operations 11

Street vendor: Sa edad ko mahirap nang makahanap ng bagong trabaho at ng kukuha sa akin. Isa

pa hindi ko natapos ang pag-aaral ko. High school lang ang natapos ko. Mas mabuti pa ang

magtinda o magkaroon ng sariling negosyo.

Rina: Naranasan nyo na po bang magkasakit dahil sa polusyon at sa paligid ng inyong

pinagtitindahan?

Street vendor: Syempre. Hindi iyon maiiwasan dahil ang trabaho na ito ay hindi madali.

Milcah: Masaya po ba kayo na Isa kayong street vendor?

Street vendor: Oo. Pwede na.

Rina: Ano ano po ang mga pagsubok na kinakaharap niyo tulad ng kakulangan sa kapital?

Street vendor: Yan talaga ang pangunahin namin problema sa pagtitinda dahil hindi palagian na

maganda ang tubo namin.

SLIPPER SELLER - ALEX

Rina: Pangalan at edad nyo po?

Alex: Ako si Alex Bungkayao

Rina: Ilang taon na po kayo?

Alex: 31

Rina: Gaano na po kayo katagal na nagbebenta dito sa Litex?

Alex: Halos 11 years na.

Rina: Ito na po ba talaga yung trabaho nyo noon pa?

 Street Vendors Against Clearing Operations 12

Alex: Pabalik balik ako ng ibang bansa.

Rina: Ah, pero bakit po kayo napunta dito?

Alex: Dito ko nahanap yung kabuhayan, parang sariling business gano'n.

Rina: May pamilya po kayo?

Alex: Meron

Milcah: Ilan po anak nyo?

Alex: Isa.

Rina: Bale do'n po napupunta yung kinikita nyo?

Alex: Opo, do'n po sa pamilya ko.

Rina: Sapat naman po ba yung kinikita nyo sa pagtitinda?

Alex: Minsan sapat, minsan hindi sapat. Kase depende rin yon sa bentahan.

Rina: Pero kadalasan po sapat po ba yung kita? Oh mas madalas po na kulang?

Alex: Mas madalas yung kulang kase konti lang business namin eh.

Rina: Magkano po yung puhunan nyo po?

Alex: Nasa 50,000 din

Rina: Magkano po yung kinikita nyo sa isang araw?

Alex: Minsan isang libo, minsan mas mababa pa. Tamang tama lang sa pangkain sa araw-araw.

Rina: Bale ganito na po yung paraan nyo sa loob ng 11 years?

 Street Vendors Against Clearing Operations 13

Alex: Oo, di baleng ganito kami, at least marangal ang kabuhayan namin.

Claire: Naranasan nyo na po ba yung hulihan?

Alex: Ay dati talagang araw-araw, kase yung iba dito bago pa lang e

Rina: Ngayon po?

Alex: Ayos naman ngayon kase may mga policy naman kaming sinusunod

Rina: Oag hinuhuli po ano pong ginagawa? Kinukuha po ba ang mga paninda nyo?

Alex: Minsan kinukuha yung paninda tapos di na isasauli pero minsan madadaan naman sa

pakiusap.

Rina: Ano pa po yung mga problema na minsan nyo pong kinakaharap sa pagbebenta?

Alex: Wala naman bukod sa minsan matumal talaga.

Rina: Naaapektuhan po ba kayo kapag may mga aksidente d'yan sa daan?

Alex: Oo, pag gano'n pektado na kaming lahat.

Rina: E yung sa klima po?

Alex: Oo, kung minsan pag umuulan napipilitan kami na hindi magtinda kase nga wala rin namang

mga tao.

Rina: Meron po ba kayong suhestiyon para sa gobyerno para sa kapakanan ng mga street vendors?

Alex: Sana mabigyan din ng pagkakataon na makapagtinda yung iba kase di naman lahat may

pwesto.

Claire: Kung magkakaroom po ng bakante do'n na pwesto sa'n nyo po mas gusto?
 Street Vendors Against Clearing Operations 14

Alex: Syempre do'n na sa may pwesto lalo atm y puhunan ka naman. Yo'n lang naman kase talaga

ang problema, puhunan.

Rina: Magkano po ba bayad sa pwesto doon?

Alex: Kung di ako nagkakamali nasa 30, 000. Araw-araw yata ang pagbabayad.

Rina: Pero yung stall po sila po yung gumagawa no'n?

Alex: Oo, sagot na nila yon. Magrerenta ka lang.

Rina: Minsan po ba nagkakasakit po kayo dahil sa polusyon?

Alex: Oo kaya yung mga anak namin di na namin dinadala dito.

Rina: Anong oras po kayo nagsisimula magbenta?

Alex: Mga 4 ng umaga hanggang 10 ng gabi.

Rina: Anong oras po yung malakas ang benta?

Alex: Mga ganitong oras, hapon.

Rina: Sige po, salamat po.

TOY SELLER - ARMANDO

Angel: pwede po ba kayong mainterbyu Tay?

Tindero: boses lang ba kailangan?

Angel: opo

Tindero: osge

Angel: ano muna pong pangalan nyo?

 Street Vendors Against Clearing Operations 15

Tindero: ipapakita ba ito sa peysbuk?

Angel: hindi po

Tindero: osge, ako si Armando

Milcah: ilang taon na po?

Tindero: 46

Milcah: gaano ka na po katagal nagtitinda dito?

Tindero: isang taon palang

Denmer: ito na po ba talaga ang hanap buhay nyo noon?

Tindero: matagal ko ng hanap buhay itong pagtitinda ng laruan, sa lugar na ito sa Litex ako bago

Denmer: bale ilang taon ka na po palang nagtitinda ng laruan tay?

Tindero: mahigit dalawang taon na o mahigit pa

Angel: magkano po ang isa ng laruan na iyan?

Tindero: 25 ang isa

Milcah: magkano po ang kinikita mo tay sa isang araw?

Tindero: nasa 1000 hanggang 1500 ganun

Rina: yun po ang araw-araw na kita?

Tindero: oo

Rina: saan po talaga ang tirahan mo tay?

 Street Vendors Against Clearing Operations 16

Tindero: galing pa akong Antipolo

Rina: mayroon po ba kayong pamilyang kailangan sustentuhan?

Tindero: wala man e, wala pa akong karanasan. Totoo iyun.

Rina: mayroon ka po bang kasama Tay?

Tindero: meron mga kapatid ko pero nasa Montalban sila

Rina: saan mo ginagamit Tay ang kinikita?

Tindero: para sa sarili ko lang

Rina: bago po magtinda ng laruan ano pong hanapbuhay nyo noon?

Tindero: tricycle driver ako dati

Rina: nahuli na po ba kayo dito o hinuli?

Tindero: hindi pa

Angel: may balak ka po ba Tay na maghanap pa ng ibang trabaho?

Tindero: wala pa kong plano mas malaki kita dito e

Rina: nagkaroon ka na po ba ng problema sa pagtitinda Tay?

Tindero: wala pa naman basta magaling ka makisama sa tao

Rina: nagkulang ka na ba sa puhunan mo Tay?

Tindero: hindi pa naman

Rina: nagkasakit ka na po ba dahil sa polusyon dito?

 Street Vendors Against Clearing Operations 17

Tindero: oo naman normal yun

Rina: mayroon ka po bang nais sabihin sa gobyero natin?

Tindero: payagan lang kaming maging legal sa pagtitinda

Rina: ano pong pinagkaiba sa may pwesto at walang pwesto?

Tindero: kami huhulihin ng mga pulis sila hindi

Rina: naranasan mo na po ba yun Tay?

Tindero: hindi pa naman

Lahat: salamat po tay

GADGET SELLER - TRAHIM SULTAN

Milcah: Pwede pong matanong ang pangalan at edad niyo?

Vendor: Ano yun?

Milcah: Pangalan at edad po

Vendor: Trahim Sultan

Milcah: Ilang taon na po kayo?

Vendor: 33

Milcah: Gaano katagal na po kayong nagbebenta dito?

Vendor: Dalawang taon na din

Rina: Dito po ba kayo nagsimula na lugar?

 Street Vendors Against Clearing Operations 18

Vendor: Galing kaming Davao tapos pumunta ng Surigao tapos dito sa maynila.

Rina: Sa davao at Surigao po ba parehas lang po ba yung trabaho niyo dito?

Vendor: Hindi, nagbebenta kamo ng souvenir sa Davao at Surigao

Rina: Bakit niyo pong naisipang magbenta dito? Naghanap po ba kayo ng ibang trabaho?

Rina: Sariling negosyo niyo po ba ito?

Vendor: Nagloloan kami sa five six

Rina: Bombay?

Vendor: Yes

Milcah: Ilan po yunv anak niyo?

Vendor: Apat

Rina: Sapat naman po ba yung kinikita niyo para sa pamilya niyo po?

Vendor: Hindi

Rina: Ilan po yung nag aaral sa mga anak niyo?

Vendor: Dalawa

Rina: Magkano po yunv kinikita niyo dito araw-araw?

Vendor: Sa isang araw siguro mga 400

Rina: Sa isang araw lang po yun?

Vendor: Mahirap na kasi sa mga panahon na ganito

 Street Vendors Against Clearing Operations 19

Milcah: Pag may clearing operations po, apektado po ba kayo?

Vendor: Syempre apektado kami diyan

Milcah: Ano pong ginagawa niyo?

Vendor: Wala, wala naman kaming magagawa.

Milcah: Kinukuha din po ba nila yung mga paninda niyo?

Vendor: Oo kinukuha nila, minsan hindi dahil na rin siguro sa awa.

Milcah: May mga panahon po ba na nagkakasakit kayo?

Vendor: Oo, kadalasan kaoag tag ulan

Rina: Kapag tag ulan po ba nagbebenta pa din kayo?

Vendor: Oo, nilalagay lang namin yung tolda namin

Rina: Ano pa po bang naranasan niyong mga problema dito?

Vendor: Minsan kinukuha nila yung passports namin, wala na kaming magawa kundi umiyak

nalang tapos kung saan ulit kami kukuha ng puhunan namin.

Rina: May nais po ba kayong baguhin o irekomenda para po sa mga ordinansang pinapatupad sa

mga street vendors?

Vendor: Meron, nais sana namin na makapagbenta kami ng alas tres ng madaling araw.

Rina: Parang may scheduling po ba?

Vendor: Oo

Milcah: Mga anong oras po ba kayo nagsisimulang magbenta dito?

 Street Vendors Against Clearing Operations 20

Vendor: 5 am minsan 6 am

Milcah: Sa gabi po, mga hanggang oras kayo?

Vendor: Minsan hanggang ala sais ng gabi kailangan pa naming magbenta.

Denmer: Mas malaki po ba yung kita sa umaga kaysa sa ibang oras?

Vendor: Oo mas maraming bumibili sa umaga kaysa sa tanghali at hapon.

Rina: Yun lang po, salamat po ng marami

DOCUMENTATION
Street Vendors Against Clearing Operations 21
 Street Vendors Against Clearing Operations 22

A Study on Street Vendors in Commonwealth, Quezon City Against the Clearing

Operations of MMDA Authorities

Name (optional): _______________________

Age: __________
Directions: For each of the following questions, please give your honest answers
on your view about the street vendors.

1. How often do you buy your necessities in the street vendors?

_____________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________
2. Do you find buying to street vendors more convenient? Why?
_____________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________
3. How do you find the quality and sanitation of the products you avail to
them?
_____________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________

4. What is your opinion about the street vendors blocking the sidewalks?
_____________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________
5. What can you suggest to the local officers to better improve the working
condition of street vendors?
_____________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________
 Street Vendors Against Clearing Operations 23

CHAPTER IV
CONCLUSION

After careful interpretation and analysis of this case study, the researchers have therefore

concluded that:

AS TO THE EXECUTION OF THE MMDA CLEARING OPERATIONS

 During the Clearing Operations of sidewalk vendors, the operatives have their duty to take

all the products of the illegal vendor and surrender it to barangay as a primary punishment

to them than requiring them to pay fines and demolish the stalls these vendors had used.

The clearing operations may not be in definite time – surprise raid. However, the MMDA

officers have no right to harass the violators.

AS TO THE TREATMENT OF LAWS TO THE SIDEWALK VENDORS

 At the local level, the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) and the

Quezon City government have legal documents prohibiting street and sidewalk vending in

Metro Manila and Quezon City, respectively.

 However, at the national level, the Philippine Constitution implicitly provides principles

that support micro entrepreneurial initiatives such as vending. This is also explicitly

mentioned in other enabling national laws such as the Local Government Code of 1991

and the Executive Order 452, which specifically provides guidelines to ensure security of

vendors in their working areas.

 There are even laws specifying rules on how street vendors and their representatives can

be part of government structures. These include the Republic Act 8425 or the Social
 Street Vendors Against Clearing Operations 24

Reform and Poverty Alleviation Act (1997), the Republic Act 7941 or the Party List

System Act, among others.

AS TO THE REASONS OF CHOOSING SIDEWALK VENDING

 The reason why sidewalk vendors end up selling in street varies.

 Most of them are because of low educational attainment that hindrances them to apply in

white or even in blue collar jobs.

 Some says because they think that being self-employed is better since the overall

management is on their own hand and do not need to comply with superiors.

 Lastly, one said that she inherits the occupation with her parents and it was passed for the

nth generation.

AS TO THE RESPONSE OF SIDEWALK VENDORS

 The sidewalk vendors are obliged to follow the rules set by their governing local officials

to avoid traffic congestion and street commotions. This will ensure the peace and order in

the local community.

 The sidewalk vendors are protected under the law against harassment or any abuse of

power by the authorities.

 The street vendors should surrender their products to the authority during clearing

operations.
 Street Vendors Against Clearing Operations 25

AS TO THE ETHICAL AND LAWFUL STANDARD

 The law against the street vending has a moral significance. Formal vendors are

complying in renting a specific space for them to legally sell their products and

even have a license to operate their business. It is only fair that illegal vendors will

not be tolerated for the sake of social justice among the formal vendors.

 The welfare of majority or the common good will always be the top priority of the

governing bodies. For instance, the traffic jam affects many people and can cause

further accidents that is why it is significant to get rid of the possible causes of this

event such as sidewalk vending.

 Marginalized group such as street vendors needs most of the attention of the local

government to address and improve their working condition, health condition and

social protection.

 The society must have recognized the great help of street vendors for the urban-

poor families as they are able to buy affordable goods and services conveniently.
 Street Vendors Against Clearing Operations 26

CHAPTER V
RECOMMENDATION

The researchers highly recommend that the street vendors had better be positively

recognized in society for they play a very significant segment of informal sector. For instance, they

offer goods and services for sale without having a permanent built up structure to satisfy the

demands of urban poor families.

The government must have an initiative to hear more about the sidewalk stories of the

local street vendors and eventually take specific measures to improve the working condition, health

condition and social protection for them. These changing factors may be in the form of new

development or growth policies and programs by government, changing socio-political conditions

and realities or even due to market forces. They may implement programs where the vendors can

have the opportunity to market their products in particular scheduled hours, have an affordable

rent spaces for them, programs to improve their skills in their specified livelihood, seminars raising

their awareness in ordinances and regulations concerning them and imposing laws against

harassment of police and other authorities against street vendors.

Furthermore, enhancing the participatory processes that governs the relationship

between street vendors and the regulator-authority will result to the economic inclusion of the

sidewalk or street vending industry and actors involved in it. Ultimately, this will lead to social

cohesion. Social cohesion means there is freedom of opportunity and enterprise allowing open

access to benefits.