QC LAUNCHES FIRST VENDORS’ BUSINESS SCHOOL TO SUPPORT STREET ENTREPRENEURS

Quezon City has institutionalized the country’s first Vendors’ Business School through a city ordinance, providing free, sustainable training to local peddlers and hawkers.

The program aims to empower vendors by equipping them with business knowledge and skills, helping them expand operations, adopt innovative practices, and contribute to the local economy.

Piloted in 2024, 108 vendors completed the six-month training, with 103 qualifying for additional support under the city’s PangkabuhayangQC Program.

Mayor Joy Belmonte emphasized that the ordinance ensures annual funding and continuous program improvement, making the initiative official and long-term rather than a one-time effort.

The program, implemented by the city’s Market Development Department with support from local offices and the CGIAR Resilient Cities Initiative, addresses the stigma and exploitation often faced by informal workers while integrating them into the formal economy.

Source: PhilNews24 | February 6, 2026