The Makati City government on Tuesday said it has rolled out mobile food carts to street vendors in line with the city’s program to help residents start small businesses.
Mayor Abigail Binay, who led Monday’s ceremonial blessing and turnover of 41 mobile food carts, said the project dubbed “Ate Maki’s Jolly Carts” was meant to help the street vendors ply their trade without obstructing vehicle traffic and and pedestrians’ movements.
“Through this program, we aim to regulate ambulant vendors in the city to maintain safe and walkable streets. At the same time, we are providing them with decent equipment to sell their goods so as to attract more customers and promote consumer safety,” Binay said.
Under the program, the city inked a three-year lease-to-own agreement with the vendors for the free use of the city-provided pedicart units. In turn, the vendors have agreed to pay P20 per day for three consecutive years.
A Memorandum of Agreement between the vendor and the city also identifies the items allowed for sale, as well as the days, time and location where they can sell their products.
In August 2020, Mayor Binay praised a 42-year old resident who used the city government’s P5,000 financial assistance to start a small fishball cart business amid the COVID-19 pandemic.
The P2.7-billion financial relief program targeted 500,000 Makati residents and employees was launched by Mayor Binay in May 2020.