Fifty vendors from markets in the districts of Jaro and Mandurriao have each received the P20,000 Nego-Kart (Negosyo sa Kariton) livelihood project of the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE).
The Nego-Karts (mobile vending carts) amounting to P1 million was facilitated by the Office of Iloilo City Lone District Rep. Julienne Baronda and were turned over on Tuesday, Feb. 16, in time for her birthday.
Baronda said that recipients are vendors, who are either displaced or will soon be displaced by the rehabilitation projects of the city government.
Part of the big-ticket projects of Iloilo City is the infrastructure rehabilitation of the Jaro big market and Mandurriao public market.
Labor Secretary Silvestre Bello III, in his message during the turnover, said that apart from the Nego-Kart, they will also add P10,000 seed capital for each beneficiary.
Bello ordered DOLE Regional Director for Western Visayas Cyril Ticao to make available the said amount.
He said that they can use the fund to purchase “kwek-kwek,” isaw, and barbecue, among others as their business.
The fund will be on top of the P5,000 that will be provided by the Department of Social Welfare and Development under the assistance to individuals in crisis situation.
Likewise, Bello advised that the bicycle attached to the cart should be replaced with a bigger one.
Bello was joined by Budget Secretary Wendel Avisado who assured the support of the national government for the various initiatives of the local government.
Before the turnover of the Nego-Karts, the cabinet secretaries also graced the turnover of 43 Japanese bicycles that will be used by Iloilo City front-liners.
The Nego-Kart or Negosyo sa Kariton is a project under the DOLE Integrated Livelihood and Emergency Employment Program to assist ambulant vendors to make their business more sustainable.Perla Lena/PNA
