The Quezon City Government has passed an ordinance institutionalizing the Quezon City Vendors’ Business School (QC VBS), a program designed to professionalize and support vendors as vital contributors to the city’s economy.

Approved through Ordinance No. SP-3430, S-2025, the measure establishes the first vendors’ business school of its kind in the country. 

The ordinance was authored by Councilors Victor Bernardo, Aly Medalla, Emmanuel Banjo Pillar, Candy Medina, and Wencerom Benedict Lagumbay, and was enacted by the City Council under the leadership of Vice Mayor Gian Sotto.

“Alinsunod sa ating good governance culture, institutionalized ang suportang ito. Sa ilalim ng ating ordinansa, sinisiguro natin ang taunang funding para sa programa, ang libreng training para sa lahat ng qualified participants, at ang patuloy na pagpapabuti ng inisyatibo upang masigurong makabuluhan ang pagkatuto ng ating mga vendors (In line with our good governance culture, this support is institutionalized. Under our ordinance, we ensure annual funding for the program, free training for all qualified participants, and continuous improvement of the initiative to ensure meaningful learning for our vendors),”

Mayor Joy Belmonte said in a statement on Thursday, Feb. 5. 

“Ibig sabihin, ang programa ay hindi one-time training lamang (This means that the program is not just a one-time training)This ordinance makes the program official and sustainable, so vendors can continue to learn, improve, and adapt as the city grows,” she added. 

The QC VBS provides structured training programs for vendors operating in public and private markets, as well as hawkers, ambulant vendors, and street vendors. Courses cover key areas such as business management, financial literacy, food safety and quality, customer service, climate adaptation, and compliance with city regulations. 

The initiative aims to equip vendors with practical skills to improve income management, service standards, and long-term business sustainability.

The program will be led by the Market Development and Administration Department, with support from the Small Business and Cooperatives Development and Promotions Office (SBCDPO) and the Quezon City Public Employment Office.

QC VBS is also implemented in partnership with the Consultative Group for International Agricultural Research (CGIAR) Resilient Cities Initiative, an international organization focused on strengthening urban food systems and food security. CGIAR played a key role in designing the program’s curriculum and provided technical guidance to ensure that the training reflects the real challenges faced by vendors on the ground.

The QC VBS was initially piloted in February 2024. By August of the same year, 108 vendors had completed six months of training workshops and coaching-mentoring sessions. Of those graduates, 103 qualified for further assistance under the PangkabuhayangQC Program of the SBCDPO, providing additional support for business expansion and stability.