DPH clamps down on roadside vendors • But vague laws and lack of manpower impede inspection

Amid reports of rampant violation of health and sanitation standards, the Department of Public Health has intensified its campaign against roadside vendors who have been operating on the island without the necessary health certificates.

During the inspection of five roadside vendors last Tuesday, Public Health Secretary Joseph Kevin Villagomez, accompanied by the staff from the Bureau of Environmental Health, ordered the confiscation of some 24 dozens of eggs which were among the food items sold in one of the pickup trucks due to serious health concern. The eggs were later on destroyed to prevent possible consumption.

“They cannot be selling eggs that are not stored in a cool temperature because these might be contaminated with salmonella or any bacteria,” he said. Selling fresh or frozen fish is alright as long as these are kept in a cold storage.

The inspections were conducted after some sectors in the community expressed concern on the apparent failure of the government to stop the proliferation of roadside vendors on board their pickup trucks.

“We are doing something about the problem but we can only do so much because our actions are limited by what is specified under the law,” said Villagomez.

At the same time, the law does not specify what the vendors can and cannot really sell. He admitted that the department is helpless in running after these people to regularly check on them because of limited manpower.

“Right now, they are selling almost everything. But they cannot sell food products like barbecue because they have no running water. They can sell eggs provided these are cooked,” said Villagomez.

Aside from the health issue, there is also a concern on whether the roadside vendors are paying taxes to the government. A Compliance Task Force was created by Rep. Oscar Babauta early this year composed of various agencies in the government, including the Departments of Commerce and Finance, to monitor the activities of these vendors.

But as long as the mobile vendors are duly licensed, the vehicles they are using are registered, and the people have the proper work permit, the government cannot stop them from doing business, explained Babauta, chair of the House Commerce and Tourism Committee.

Rep. Heinz Hofschneider, chair of the House Health, Education and Welfare Committee, said the problem only proves that there is a need to increase the budget of DPH to give them the needed manpower in carrying out their task.

“It is a serious health issue and it may not cost the government a lot of money if we just have to make sure that public heath has the right number of staff,” said Hofschneider.