Amadeo Estuita | Leyte Normal University (original) (raw)

Papers by Amadeo Estuita

In this research the main question: (1) To what extent does organization among the street vendors... more In this research the main question: (1) To what extent does organization among the street vendors contribute to the realization of their goals and (2) what are the consequences for their livelihoods?

Street vendors have desired goals. These goals surprisingly are not situated in the realm of entering the formal sector. Rather they want to expand their business and carry on within the same framework they are acting in. Street vendors are satisfied with the efforts of their union and with the ‘maximum tolerance policy of local government. The main goal of the street vendors is to improve their business and expand their business and revenues in order to improve their livelihood. The current policy is one of status quo on the legal side, where officially vendors are illegal, but managed within a policy of maximum tolerance, with no priority for local government to change the situation. Other organizations are at the heart of negotiating a participatory process that includes local government and street vendors represented by their organizations alike. They made progress but the goals are not yet met. Generally speaking can be concluded that the microbusiness of street vending is more than a sponge for less fortunate dwellers, it can be a career for people coming from poor backgrounds, and ultimately it can be a life achievement and desired goal as well.

Keywords: Street Vendors, livelihood, formal sector, business, union, local government, revenues, policy, illegal, maximum tolerance, organization, microbusiness

In this research the main question: (1) To what extent does organization among the street vendors... more In this research the main question: (1) To what extent does organization among the street vendors contribute to the realization of their goals and (2) what are the consequences for their livelihoods?

Street vendors have desired goals. These goals surprisingly are not situated in the realm of entering the formal sector. Rather they want to expand their business and carry on within the same framework they are acting in. Street vendors are satisfied with the efforts of their union and with the ‘maximum tolerance policy of local government. The main goal of the street vendors is to improve their business and expand their business and revenues in order to improve their livelihood. The current policy is one of status quo on the legal side, where officially vendors are illegal, but managed within a policy of maximum tolerance, with no priority for local government to change the situation. Other organizations are at the heart of negotiating a participatory process that includes local government and street vendors represented by their organizations alike. They made progress but the goals are not yet met. Generally speaking can be concluded that the microbusiness of street vending is more than a sponge for less fortunate dwellers, it can be a career for people coming from poor backgrounds, and ultimately it can be a life achievement and desired goal as well.

Keywords: Street Vendors, livelihood, formal sector, business, union, local government, revenues, policy, illegal, maximum tolerance, organization, microbusiness