Vendors flock to the Comelec to get CH aid

CEBU, Philippines — Cebu City market vendors have flocked to the office of the Commission on Elections yesterday morning to secure voter’s certification in order to receive the P5,000 assistance.

Unable to control the crowd, the Comelec personnel immediately stopped the transactions.

Cebu City Market Administrator Irvin Cabales later clarified that vendors need not to go to the Comelec office to secure certification.

Cabales said they will just verify the vendors’ names in the 2019 official list of voters provided by the Comelec.

Also, the voter’s certification is reportedly among the requirement in renewing business permit.

“So ang among gibuhat, i-inform na nato ang mga vendors nga igo nalang sila moari sa opisina sa MOD (Market Operations Division) for stall holders unya ang kadtong ambulant vendors, adto sa PROBE kay nag-provide na og list ang Comelec. Adto na nato i-verify sa list sa Comelec gyud. Kami na’y mo-verify,” said Cabales.

Cabales said this is to avoid crowding which might risk the health of the people.

The deadline for the verification is on January 30, 2021.

Cabales said the assistance, called economic stimulus program of the city government, aims to help the vendors, jeepney drivers, and other sectors gravely affected by the pandemic.

He explained that there is a need for verification as the money is from Cebu City coffers intended only for those registered voters in the city.

Requirements for the stall holders to be able to claim the assistance are business permit, voter’s certification, and the form they need to fill out and signed.

Cabales added that not all will get the assistance as only 2,500 slots to be given to legitimate stall holders while 4,000 slots for ambulant vendors including sidewalk vendors. — GMR (FREEMAN)