By Paulo Loreto Lim

The Bacolod City Sangguniang Panlungsod (SP) recently passed an ordinance requiring food vendors to acquire a Bacolod City Health Office (CHO) health card or face fines.
Dubbed the “Ambulant Food Vendors Ordinance of Bacolod City,” the legislation, penned by Bacolod City Councilor Em Ang, indicates food vendors, defined as “any person who sells food by use of food carts, food stands, or any food containers,” must secure a health card in order to prevent food-borne and water-borne illnesses.
According to the ordinance, in order to apply for the health card, vendors must submit a barangay certificate and a certificate of indigency, which is issued by the barangay captain to affirm the applicant is needy and a resident of the barangay.
Food vendors must also register with the barangay where they operate.
Additionally, the document requires all utensils utilized be disposable and, if approved, the health card must be worn by the vendor at all times.
Applicants must also undergo a medical examination before being approved for the card.
Food vendors found in violation of the ordinance face fines between P300 and P1,000, along with the possibility of community service./WDJ