‘Unity Clean-Up Drive’ in Libertad, Burgos, and Central Market Vendors Association

Ernesto” Jojo” Moyani, President of (LBCVA) Libertad, Burgos, and Central Market Vendors Association has been working together with (PK) Partido Kalikasan, that believes in the effective use of the Two-Legged Approach to forward and institutionalize genuine change for the basic sectors in collaboration with (EEGCI) Eco Entrepreneurial Greens Communities, Inc.

PK’s legislative agenda focus is to lobby on issues like National Growth through Sustainable Development, Climate Change Adaptive and Disaster Risk Resilient Mechanism, State Recognition, and Support to Informal Economy Workers.

Their goal of realizing the long term effectiveness of localized responses in attaining sustainability despite the currents COVID – 19 challenges focusing on problems such as carbon emissions and comprehensive environmental protection shall be their priority, climate change adaptation measures and disaster risk resilient mechanisms, looking into Inter- and intra-regional, as well as international collaboration that will advocate for education and awareness.

In coordination with the mission of (PK) Partido Kalikasan, (LBCVA) Libertad, Burgos, and Central Market Vendors Association, Mr. Moyani headed and has organized the very first “Unity Clean-Up Drive”. They currently have a total of 256 vendors from Libertad Market alone and those members, 86 active vendor members participated and took some time with importance to take action and participated with the initiative. They plan to do the clean-up drive on monthly basis together with the additional local markets.

Despite the challenges with the COVID-19 Health Protocols they went around and marched the whole market area with their uniformed white shirts, garbage sacks, and brooms fully masked and shielded ready to rally for change. They have sent a formal letter to the market supervisor and to their local Barangay to organize such activity to avoid disruption of the business cycle in their area.

Mr. Moyani and his family along with the other tenured vendors have been a part of Libertad Market for decades, with his 61 years of existence he has not seen drastic changes, it has always been resolved through “band-aid solutions” when it comes to building reconstruction and organization based on section inside the market, the market situation has not changed a lot except its glorious exterior which has been made years back, frames and pillars are concrete but the roof frames and truss are still made of worn off wooden pallets, wet floors and the foul smell of mixed meat, fish and decomposing fruits and vegetables are intoxicating and are a hazard not only to the health and safety of the vendors but to the local community consumers.

Part of their project planning is to provide local vendors micro and small entrepreneurs with seminars and educational awareness talks, entrepreneurship, and livelihood seminars on how to manage their small business to accumulate profit and sustain their business long term. It includes seminars regarding environmental sustainability, recycling through waste segregation to avoid adding up to the root cause of climate change, and the importance of implementing our local ordinances that co-relate to the main concerns.

he group has shared its grievances and voicing their emotions towards the Local Government Unit that they can hopefully extend importance and support to the local vendors of Bacolod City through environmental sustainability projects, livelihood seminars, and programs in the future.

The lives and the situation of our local vendors have not changed in years and perhaps with the ambitious goal of providing education and support to our vendors, the Local Government Unit can establish concrete initiatives and projects that would better the situation of those who are engaged in an informal way of income that is not eligible for cash assistance that only relies on their income for a day these will equipt them to survive economic challenges due to the COVID-19 Pandemic.* (Witch Dog)