Street vending, one of the most ancient forms of commerce, plays a significant role in urban-economics in many under-developed and developing countries and is most evident urban informal sector economy. It provides easy accessibility to cheap commodities and also provides livelihood to urban poor. But it also brings negative effects, such as deteriorating urbanscape, poor sanitary condition, traffic congestions, social crimes etc in the case of lack of adequate and effective management.
In the Philippines, as in many developing countries, street vending is very commonly visible in most of the cities. In Quezon City, the most populous city of the Philippines, street vendors are predominantly occupying the street and sidewalks and public spaces. One of the apparent examples is the street vending along commonwealth Avenue, which is one of the major road connecting Metro-manila. Even though, Quezon City has developed local level legislations for management of street vendors and has been employing certain management measures, is still facing challenges in managing street vendors and vending areas. This situation suggests necessity to examine present management measures and develop comprehensive management measures tackling all the major aspects of street vending.
This study tried to analyze present regulatory frame work that is guiding the management of street vending; examine current management measure/initiatives adopted by local government and identify issues and areas of improvement in the case of Commonwealth Avenue, Quezon city. The main objective of the study was to identify comprehensive street vendors management measures and way to integrate management in Urban Planning.
Information gathered from secondary data and key informant interviews were used to analyze the present regulatory framework; state of management of street vending in the study areas and level of integration of management measures in city planning.