20 ambulant vendors receive nego-kart
Twenty ambulant vendors from the different districts in the city received their mobile carts or nego-karts from the Negosyo sa Kariton project of the Western Visayas College of Science and Technology (WVCST) Extension Services Division and Department of Labor and Employment Office (DOLE).
The recipients of the joint project are parents of the child laborers identified by the City Social Welfare and Development Office (CSWDO). Beneficiaries are peddling cooked or processed and ready-to-eat food products through their mobile carts.
WVCST contributed P60,000 while DOLE has the counterpart of P240,000 for the nego-karts. The Nego-Kart project is the second major project of the WVCST Extension Services with the labor department. The first project was the Suporta sa Manggagawang Kabataan, Kabuhayan Para Sa Magulang or the Comprehensive Development Project for Parents of Child Laborers.
WVCST President Dr. Luis Sorolla said helping such project is one of the functions of a state college. A state college has several functions which include instruction, research, extension and production.
The carts are made according to the needs of the vendors. Each of the cart costs P12,000. Of the 20 carts, 10 are custom built for vendors who cook fish ball, banana and camote cue, peanuts and corn. The ten other carts are designed to preserve food products such as siopao and bread. The carts were turned over to the beneficiaries on November 3 in a program held at the WVCST.
Apart from the carts, each recipient will receive a capital. The capital will depend on the kind of small business they are into. The beneficiaries underwent livelihood skills training to equip them with knowledge on the new trends in food peddling business.
Flora Melliza, one of the beneficiaries said the nego-cart will help her in her hot cake and shake business. She sells her food stuff in Jaro Plaza.
The cart is presentable and will encourage passers to drop by and buy what she is selling.
