Manila posts record collection in hawkers’ fees

The city government of Manila has reported a record collection of P26.5 million from hawkers’ fees paid under the Organized Vending Program initiated by Mayor Lito Atienza.

A total of P26,474,722.20 in additional revenues was collected from January to June, covering only the first two quarters of the current year. It is projected that the amount will more than double by year-end due to the great influx of vendors during heavy vending activities, including the Yuletide season.

Atienza said the two-quarter collection for this year already surpassed by P2,285,531.22 the total collection for the same period last year of P24,189,190.98.

The mayor attributed the increase in revenue from vendors’ fees to efficient collection and the cooperation of the vendors themselves to make the Organized Vending Program work.

Under Atienza’s Buhayin ang Maynila program, organized vending sites that provide livelihood opportunities to city residents were put up in strategic areas around the city.

Manila’s Organized Vending Program is a response to both the need to restore order in the streets and the desire of the genuinely poor vendors in urban areas to earn a decent living.