CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY (PIA)--The Department of Science and Technology (DOST)-10 turned over solar-powered vending carts to six ambulant street food vendors here.
The project "Build Back Better Vending Carts" is in partnership with the City Government of Cagayan de Oro where the City Social Welfare and Development (CSWD) office screened the recipients from among the long list of street food vendors all around the city. The screening included background checks, good standing records, on-site visits, and interviews.
"Daghan jud kaayo ni sila nga mga vendors diri sa atong syudad. Mao nga medyo kuti jud atong pagsala ani sa ila. (We have a long list of vendors in the city that is why the screening of the recipients was very crucial)," said Maria Dorotea E. Elpa of CSWD.
The prototype Build Back Better Vending Cart has solar power generated with a capacity of 100 watts that can power a lightbulb, fan, and charge phones. It has a built-in sink with a portable faucet connected separately to the storage of clean and wastewater.
It is enclosed with a 3-sided acrylic barrier to reduce the transmission of COVID-19, has blinking lights and horns for safety purposes, comes with a glass food display, gas tank with stove, trash bins, a stainless steel tabletop, and a Food Safety Guide Infographic material.
City Mayor Oscar Moreno graced the event as well as key personnel from DOST-10.
"We have two goals for this project. One is to make it visible that science is really for the people, thus the solar-powered vending carts for our food vendors. The other is an improved livelihood for them,” said DOST-10 Regional Director Alfonso P. Alamban.
The six recipients of the vending carts were Rogelio Olaguer, Jessica Hisoler, Angela Balos, John Michael Sabanal, Cristita Burston, and Norman Presillas.
"Dako kaayo ni nga tabang sa amoa labaw na sa pandemic aron makatabang pagpaeskwela sa among mga anak (This will help us alot in financing for our children's education, especially in this time of pandemic)," said Cristita E. Burston, one of the cart recipients.
Moreno also mentioned the possibility of assigning the vendors to suitable and permanent selling areas in the city. (DOST-10/PIA-10)
