Abstract:
Amidst the proliferation of clearing operations targeting street vendors in the Philippines,
conversations are held academically and legislatively on street vending reforms that can facilitate
the integration of informal street vendors into formal industries. While most formalization
strategies bank on the effectiveness of providing land and rights to sell, it is critical to determine
concrete factors that can encourage positive reception and facilitate livelihood development.
Hence, using Healey’s Collaborative Planning Model (2007), this case study explores the design
and implementation of the NPDC’s Park Trading Policy in Rizal Park. Specifically, the study
examines the NPDC-Vendors relationship, the vendors' evaluation, and the vendors' daily
livelihood operations under the policy. A thematic analysis was conducted from data gathered
through individual and dyadic semi-structured interviews with two NPDC representatives and
five park vendors. Findings show that, while there are disagreeable points, the vendors favor the
policy due to the increased capacity to earn and decreased work stress. Notably, their reception
towards individual policy guidelines is influenced by visibility, preservation of street vending
characteristics, and legitimization of their formal status. However, while productive, the
NPDC-Vendor relationship is only consultative, thus maintaining power imbalance and
restricting vendors to reactor roles. Nonetheless, their memberships in registered associations
elevated their level of empowerment making their status conducive to the incorporation of
participatory communication mechanisms. Thus, the researcher recommends increasing
government or NGO efforts to assist in the registration of informal vendor groups. Supported by
the vendors’ evaluation, the study also recommends the adaption of the Park Trading Policy
especially in tourist zones or prime street vending spots. Future studies about street vending may
consider applying evaluative quantitative designs for existing formalization policies, or
comparative research between informal and formal vendor experiences.
