Pinoy Vendors are Marginalized

Marginalization is perhaps the most dangerous form of oppression. A whole category of people is expelled from useful participation in social life (Young, 1990, p. 53).

Young, I. M. (1990). Justice and the politics of difference. Princeton, NJ: Princeton University Press.


THE BELLAGIO INTERNATIONAL DECLARATION OF STREET VENDORS

Having regard to the fact

• In the fast growing urban sector there is a proliferation of poor hawkers and vendors, including those who are children;

• That because of poverty, unemployment and forced migration and immigration, despite the useful service they render to society, they are looked upon as an hindrance to the planned development of cities both by the elite urbanities and the town planners alike;

• That hawkers and vendors are subjected to constant mental and physical torture by the local officials and are harassed in many other ways which at times leads to riotous situations, loss of property rights, or monetary loss;

• That there is hardly any public policy consistent with the needs of street vendors throughout the world.

We urge upon Governments

• To form a National Policy for hawkers and vendors by making them a part of the broader structural policies aimed at improving their standards of living, by having regard to the following:

• give vendors legal status by issuing licenses, enacting laws and providing appropriate hawking zones in urban plans;

• provide legal access to the use of appropriate and available space in urban areas protect and expand vendors' existing livelihood;

• make street vendors a special component of the plans for urban development by treating them as an integral part of the urban distribution system;

• issue guidelines for supportive services at local levels;

• enforce regulations and promote self-governance;

• set up appropriate, participative, non-formal mechanisms with representation by street vendors and hawkers, NGOs, local authorities, the police and others;

• provide street vendors with meaningful access to credit and financial services;

• provide street vendors with relief measures in situations of disasters and natural calamities, and

• take measures for promoting a better future for child vendors and persons with disabilities.

Membership Details: Philippine Vendors Association

Kadalasa’y nababalitaan (sa radio, TV, newspapers) ang pag-alimura sa pagkatao ng mga vendors particular sa mga illegal sidewalk vendors. Napapanood sa mga balita kung gaano na lang sila tratuhin ng may mga authoridad (City, Municipality at lalo na ng MMDA).

Ang may mga legal na status o puwesto nama'y nahaharap rin sa kani-kanilang mga suliranin pagdating sa mga bagay na tulad ng micro-finance, profit margins o ganansya (na tila lumiliit), sa marketability, pagbaba ng bilang ng mga namimili at suliraning pampamahalaan o pribado, particular kapag sila'y tinataasan ng tara o upa sa puwesto.

Sa kabila ng pakikipag-punyagi ng mga local-based vendor associations, tila hindi pa rin sapat ang mga hakbangin ng ilan upang kaharapin ng may mas malawakan at solidong pagsulong ang alin sa mga sumusunod:

1) Pagpapahalaga sa katayuan ng bawat manininda/vendor at papel na kanilang ginagampanan sa lipunan at pangkalakalan;

2) Pagkilala sa karapatan ng mga vendors (karapatang pantao) at tungkulin ng pamahalaan. Tila walang malawakang-kaalaman kung saan ang hangganan sa dalawang nag-uumpugang tungkulin at mga karapatan. Ano ba ang nasasaad sa batas na magbibigay pagkilala sa mga karapatan ng vendors?

3) Political muscle – dahil ang mga politico ay napapaamo lamang minsan sa loob ng tatlong taon. Pagnaka-puwesto na, vendors ang inuunang salakayin para magka-pogi-points agad;

4) Microfinance – kadalasa’y natutugunan ng mga lenders na mahigpit maningil at nagpapatong ng mataas na interes;

5) Murang gamot at pagpapa-ospital – sanhi na rin ng kakulangang financial at kaalaman o impormasyon; at,

6) Solidong pakiki-bukluran - maliit o malaki man ang kalakal.

Simula nang mabuo ang Philippine Vendors Association (PVA) noong 2003, nagdulot ito ng karagdagang kaliwanagan at kalakasan sa mga nagpaunlak na mapabilang sa aming isinagawang pagsaliksik.

Ikinagagalak naming ipaalam na matapos ang limang taong paghahanda, ang Philippine Vendors Association (PVA) ay nagububukas para sa lahat ng mga vendors na nais makisapi.

Sa inyong pakikiisa, sabay nating salubungin ang mga suliraning ating kinakaharap at kakaharapin lalo na sa panahon ng global recession.

Membership details:

Ambulant vendors: 100 pesos annual membership fee plus free I.D. with picture.

Registered sidewalk vendors: 200 pesos annual membership fee plus I.D. with picture.

Non-registered sidewalk/market vendors: 300 pesos annual membership fee plus I.D. with picture.

Registered Market vendors/stall holders: 350 pesos annual membership fee plus I.D. stickers.

Cart-owners, stall holders and vendors in malls: 350 pesos annual membership fee plus I.D. stickers.

Individual vendors (non-professional products): 300 pesos annual membership fee plus I.D. with picture.

Individual vendors (professional products): 500 pesos annual membership fee plus I.D. with picture.

Text Philippine Vendors Association (PVA): 0906-1995-895