Belmonte: Explain fee collection from QC vendors

MANILA, Philippines — Quezon City Mayor Joy Belmonte has ordered a private company to explain the daily collection from market vendors under the Luzon Avenue flyover.

Belmonte, during an inspection on Monday, met with the vendors, who said they have been paying between P80 to P150 daily to a private company that only issues an acknowledgement receipt under the name “Luzon Wet and Dry Market.”

With 200 vendors operating in the area, the company earns at least P480,000 per month.

A statement from the city government said the mayor summoned the unidentified owner of the company to show proof that the collection of fees is legal and that the firm has an existing business permit.

Belmonte said she also wants to know if the company pays taxes to the city government.

“I want to see who collects from you,” she told the vendors in Filipino. “I don’t want anyone taking advantage from you.”

Belmonte has recently started making rounds in various parts of the city to address different concerns brought to her office and through her social media accounts.

Meanwhile, the Quezon City Task Force for Transport and Traffic Management yesterday admonished two bus terminals for lacking loading and unloading bays.

Task force head Ariel Inton said he told officials of Jam Liner Inc. and Solid North Transit Inc. to put loading and unloading bays in place at the back of the terminals so as not to contribute to the traffic gridlock on EDSA.