Jolo Municipal Government: Issues, Concerns and Prospects of Management on Market and Sidewalk Vendors

Abstract

This study sought to determine the extent of market management and market vendors' perceptions toward the public market programs, vis-à-vis administration and supervision, safety and security, hygiene and sanitation, prohibit acts by the market vendors, and obligatory duties and responsibilities of the market vendors. It answered the research questions based on the following hypothesis: There is no significant difference on the extent of the programs of Jolo Municipal Government as perceived by market management and vendors when data are categorized according to gender, age and monthly income. It employed the descriptive-quantitative research design with 20 market management and 100 market vendors in Jolo, Sulu. The mean, percentage score and standard deviation were used to determine the extent of market management and vendors' perceptions on the market management programs. The t-Test for independent samples and One-Way ANOVA were used to determine the significant differences in the perceptions of market management and vendors in the following domains such as supervision, safety and security, hygiene and sanitation, prohibit acts by the market vendors, and obligatory duties and responsibilities of the market vendors. This study revealed the following findings: I. On respondents' demographic profiles; 1.1. In terms of gender, out of 20 market management staff. 19 are male with only one female, while out of 100 market vendors, 62 are male and 38 are female. 1.2. In terms of age, out of 20 market management staff 65% on the age range of 41 years old and above which is followed by 31-40 years old and 20-30 years old which constitute 20% and 15% respectively. Likewise, 48% out of 100 vendors are within the age range of 41 years old and above while 36% at 31-40 years old and 16% at 20-30 years old brackets. 1.3. In terms of monthly income, 67% are within the income range of 3,000-6,000 while some of them are within the 1,000-3,000 and 6,000-9,000 brackets with 18% and 15% respectively. None among the vendors earns 9,000 and above. 1.4. In terms of occupation, police and garbage collectors constitute 25% each of the total market management staff. However, among the vendors group, both vegetable/fruit and fish vendors constitute 28% each out of the 100 respondents. 2. On the extent of the programs of Jolo Municipal Government on market and sidewalk vendors as perceived by the management and vendors: 2.1 By Management's perceptions; 2.1.1 On administration and supervision; this category is generally rated as Agree, 2.1.2 On safety and security; this category is generally rated as Agree, 2.1.3 On Hygiene and Sanitation; this category is generally rated as Strongly Agree, 2. 1.4 On Prohibit Acts by the Market Vendors; this category is generally rated as Agree, 2.1.5 On Obligatory Duties and Responsibilities of the Market Vendors; this category is generally rated as Agree;2.2 By Market Vendors' perceptions 2.1.1 On administration and supervision; this category is generally rated as Agree,2.1.2 On safety and security; this category is generally rated as Agree, 2.1.3 On Hygiene and Sanitation; this category is generally rated as Agree, 2.1.4 On Prohibit Acts by the Market Vendors; this category is generally rated as Agree,2.1.5 On Obligatory Duties and Responsibilities of the Market Vendors; this category is generally rated as Agree; 3. On the differences on the extent of the programs of Jolo Municipal Government as perceived by market management and vendors; 3.1 By Gender: There is no significant difference on the extent of the programs of Jolo Municipal Government as perceived by market management and vendors when data are categorized according to gender; 3.2 By Age: There is no significant difference on the extent of the programs of Jolo Municipal Government as perceived by market management and vendors when data are categorized according to age; 3.3 By Income: There is significant difference on the extent of the programs of Jolo Municipal Government as perceived by market management and vendors when data are categorized according to income. And that, no other group of market vendors are supposed to have better level of perceptions than the 6,000-9,000 monthly earners with regards to judging the proper implementation of safety and security as well as the hygiene and sanitation at the market areas of the Municipality of Jolo.
Based of the findings of this, the following conclusions are made: 1. Most of the market management staff and market vendors are male, with age range of 41 years old and above and at monthly income range of 3,000-6,000; 2. Generally, both market management staff and markets vendors agree to the programs and policies of market management of the Municipality of Jolo, Sulu; 3. Among the respondents' demographic profiles, monthly income is observed to have great influence on the ways how market management staff and market vendors perceive the extent of the programs and policies of market management of the Municipality of Jolo, Sulu; 4. Mostly the issues on security and safety, proper implementation of market laws or ordinances and prompt payment of the market fees and renewal of the licenses, proper collection of garbage and watering of the place where the fish is usually sold, are recommended by both Management and Marker and Sidewalk vendors in order to improve the Jolo Public Market; and S. This study seemed to support the theory of Hal Draper, specifically on non-state Junction which states, among others, that the government shall render social services among its constituents in the spheres of economic, social, cultural and political life.