Economic and Social Implications and Challenges of Relocation of Street Vendors in a Highly Urbanized City

Abstract

On July 29, 2019, the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) issued Memorandum Circular 2019-121 (DILG MC 2019-121), ordering the local chief executives to clear roads, sidewalks, and rights-of-way of obstructions. The descriptive-comparative research design was used to describe the economic and social implications of their relocation. A validated and reliability-tested survey questionnaire was used to gather data from 197 displaced vendors peddling in the downtown of a highly urbanized city. The findings of the study showed that the relocation of the displaced vendors did not change their economic conditions in terms of their average monthly sales, expenses, and income, but significantly differ when grouped and compared according to their age, educational attainment, family size, years of vending, and types of merchandise. Likewise, their social well-being did not change in terms of education and health and significantly differ when grouped and compared according to the aforementioned variables.   Moreover, the major challenges faced by the relocated vendors were as follows: their means of livelihood is very difficult; not enough financial support is given during their relocation; limited space/trading site; and lack of access to the credit facility. The local government may utilize the study to implement a transit-oriented development of these vendors.