Bangkok-style night market in Manila? Candidates pitch solutions for street vendors

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How can the next leaders of Manila ensure street vendors aren’t displaced while keeping sidewalks clear for pedestrians?

MANILA, Philippines – In Manila, some sidewalks and roads have become makeshift stalls — roadblocks for some, but go-to spots for those hunting for quick, affordable food and bargains. For vendors like Gi Mendoza in Sta. Cruz, it’s more than convenience — it’s survival.

“Sa sarili naming bansa, parang kami pa ‘yung dayuhan,” Mendoza told Rappler. (It’s as if we’re foreigners in our own country.)

She expressed frustration over relentless clearing operations. “[We just want] orderliness for vendors like us because small-scale vendors like us are often most affected. When they (officials) do their clearing operations, they really go overboard in catching and scaring everyone.”

With elections approaching, street vendors are hoping for fair treatment from the city’s next leaders. Several candidates are proposing solutions, including dedicated vendor spaces and a Bangkok-style night market.

Space for vendors

Actor-turned-mayoral candidate Raymond Bagatsing and his running mate, former city councilor Pablo “Chikee” Ocampo, see a night market as a win-win for tourism and street vendors.

“These vendors are Manila voters. They have the right to earn and eat three times a day,” Ocampo said during Rappler’s “Kape, Kandidato, Komunidad” election forum on Saturday, January 25.

“We plan to create something like a Bangkok night market. We want to open it up for tourism,” Bagatsing said.

Ocampo added that organized vendor spaces can drive economic growth.

“Just give them the right space, and they can make a living. If vendors in Thailand, Singapore, and Hong Kong can earn well by being placed in proper areas where they aren’t harassed or have their carts taken, they can be a big contributor,” Ocampo said.

Mayoral candidate Michael Say proposed purchasing commercial properties for vendor spaces.
“Instead of selling city properties, the government should buy spaces in commercial areas where vendors can sell without disruptions,” Say said.

Reelectionist Manila 3rd District Representative Joel Chua has a similar vision. He plans to develop property owned by Department of Human Settlements and Urban Development Secretary Jose “Jerry” Acuzar in Quiapo into a food hub. Chua also filed a bill to declare Quiapo a heritage zone, covering landmarks such as Quiapo Church, Plaza Miranda, and San Sebastian Church.

Managing Manila’s sidewalks is a delicate balancing act, Chua acknowledged.

“May karapatan silang (vendors) mabuhay pero paano naman ‘yung mga pedestrian na dumadaan? May karapatan din naman sila na gumamit nun (ng kalsada). Dahil, in the first place, ‘yung kalye para ‘yan talaga sa pedestrian,” Chua said.

(Vendors have the right to make a living, but what about the pedestrians passing by? They also have the right to use the roads, because, in the first place, streets are meant for pedestrians.)

“Lahat naman tayo, entitled tayo na mabuhay nang maayos, ‘di ba? But the thing is, siguro ‘yung pinaka-importanteng dapat din natin i-impose din natin ‘yung discipline,” Chua said. (We all deserve to live well, right? But the thing is, perhaps the most important thing we should also impose is discipline.)

Business owners, who pay city permits, also complain about unregulated vendors, Chua added.

Former Manila Mayor Isko Moreno, now seeking a political comeback, was known for his aggressive clearing operations. While some praised his efforts, vendors criticized the lack of relocation plans.

Incumbent Mayor Honey Lacuna, Tutok to Win Party-list Representative Sam Versoza, and Moreno were invited to the forum but did not attend. – Rappler.com