The Makati City local government distributed on Monday, March 21, mobile food carts to Makatizen vendors to help them financially recover from the effects of the Covid-19 pandemic.

Makati City Mayor Abby Binay led the ceremonial blessing and turnover of 41 mobile food carts dubbed “Ate Maki’s Jolly Carts” to help vendors earn a living without causing obstruction to vehicles and pedestrians.

“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.

She added that each vendor will be assigned to sell at specific streets and open spaces so that they will not cause obstruction for motorists. The scheme will also ensure that they will follow the public health and safety protocols despite the decline in Covid-19 cases in the metropolis.

The local government unit (LGU) explained that the city has 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 (MOA) between the vendor and the city also determines the items allowed for sale as well as the days, time, and location where they can sell their products.

The LGU also assued other vendors that they will distribute more mobile food carts in the coming days.

As Metro Manila was placed under Alert Level 1 until the end of the month, more and more people are now allowed to go out of their homes and businesses are allowed to operate at full capacity to help the economy recover from the adverse economic effects brought about by the pandemic.