Implementing Agency:
City Government of Valenzuela
Year Implemented:
29 March 2020 – present
Themes:
Management for Productivity, Quality, and Agility, and Perspectives on Productivity, Governance, and Development
General Description
The Market on Wheels program, implemented by the City Government of Valenzuela in partnership with VALDECO Greenleaf Market, provides a means for citizens to purchase essential goods without having to leave their homes, thus ensuring their safety during the COVID-19 pandemic, while also generating livelihood opportunities for market vendors and tricycle operators.
Background and Problem
The lockdowns necessitated by the rapid spread of COVID-19 in Metro Manila during the first half of 2020 meant that access to markets, grocery stores, and malls was limited for most of the population. The demand for essential goods amidst the pandemic created the need to reestablish the flow of goods from sellers to consumers while enforcing safety protocols for both. This problem is exacerbated by the tight and narrow roads of Valenzuela, further limiting access particularly for inner city communities.
Solution and Impact
The Valenzuela City Government replicated a similar program implemented in Pasig City, called Mobile Palengke, and tweaked it to adapt to the particular circumstances of their city. They employed electric tricycles or e-trikes, initially turned over to the local government unit (LGU) by the Department of Energy (DOE), to handle the transportation of goods to the hard to reach areas of the city and serve as mobile stores.
Commodities are organized into four groups: meat and poultry, seafood, fruits and vegetables, and grocery items. E-trikes are assigned to each commodity group, with supplies provided by vendors organized by the local market administrator. The LGU then coordinates with the barangays to identify the most ideal areas where the e-trikes will set up shop, with consideration given to the requirements of social distancing, adequate air circulation, and the ability to disinfect afterward. The barangays also provided peace and security assistance through the barangay tanods and ensured that the customers are exercising social distancing with one another. Finally, to ensure safety not only from the COVID-19 pandemic but also from bacteria and other viruses, the City Government’s Clean and Green Disinfection Team conducts surface disinfection at the closing of the market.
Milestones
The Market on Wheels program has been institutionalized and has had multiple runs in venues throughout the city.
Photos
Valenzuela City’s Market on Wheels (Source: City Government of Valenzuela)
Sources
Aguarino, J. (2020, March 31). “Market on Wheels” Brings Fresh Veggies and Meat, Basic Goods Closer to Valenzuelanos. Official Website of the City Government of Valenzuela. https://www.valenzuela.gov.ph/article/news/13384
Hallare, K. (2020, March 28). Valenzuela emulates Pasig; launches own ‘market on wheels’. Inquirer.Net. https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1249957/kopyahannato-valenzuela-unveils-own-market-of-wheels-thanks-pasigs-vico-sotto-for-idea#ixzz6zrabiFMt