PROBLEMATIC MAP

High prices of goods

Low
income

Unsound economic policies

Expensive
rent
of the space
Too
many
competitors

lack of
security

economic

I DONT HAVE ENOUGH INCOME

From our collective observations on vegetable vendors in our three
target community the Bayan Market, San Bartolome Market and Sauyo
Market, we come up with this diagram wherein we have two superordinate
influential factors the high prices of goods and the unsound economic
security which are the root cause of the problem, insufficient income or the
stage in this diagram.'' I dont have enough income''.
High Prices of Goods.
Nowadays, the prices of different goods in the market especially
vegetables are rapidly increasing. One of the reasons that really affects is
the natural calamities that occur in provinces which are the primary
vegetable suppliers in different places. This instance results to inadequate
supplies of vegetables with an equivalent high price. For example the
common vegetables they buy ''wholesale'' from Balintawak Market are leafy
green vegetables which the price range from Php50 - Php70 depends on the
quality of the vegetables and where province it came. Usually the province
that supplies vegetables with high price is from Baguio and other vegetable
suppliers from Northern Luzon. Likewise, root vegetables like carrots,
gingers, potatoes, onions, garlic and so on and so forth are the high price
which ranges from Php80 - Php120. With this, it became a burden to many
small vegetable vendors with a small capital for business. The capital they
spent is P500 to P1000, these are the small vegetable vendors (usually on
sidewalks) while those big ones yet haven't earned enough income at the
end of the day ranges from Php3000 to Php5500 a day. Thus, in selling the
goods they need to increase or add at least Php3 - Php5 from the original
price to return the capital and at least gain an income from it. However, most

of the time, loss in business transaction always occur which cause a low
income for them.
We also observe that most of the vegetable vendors especially on
sidewalks haven't at least a weighing scale for their products. They tend to
go to others who have this just to calculate the mass of the vegetable they
sell. It is a bit interruption to their customers because of the time wasted
especially if the place that the vendor goes through is far from hi/her store.
Thats why its one of the factors that affect the number of person who buys
on them. Moreover, their costumers and other vendors are recommending to
at least buy a small and affordable weighing scale to improve their service
and avoid interruption to others. With this, some of the vendors followed the
recommendations and the feedback they hear from their customers while
others did not (although they really want) because of the insufficient income
they earn. In this situation Cybernetic theory applied for it focuses on
feedback loops and control processes and how it can maintain balance and
create change.
Moreover, expensive rent for space is another deduction (for some who
are renting). Most of business spaces on market remain increasing whether it
is a small or big one. For an instance, a length of a small space (1 1/2m
length and width) costs Php150 to Php200 a day, while Php350 to Php400 for
big space (2m length and 3m width). Therefore, it is a big loss for vegetable
vendors especially to those who are not capable to run such business with a
small capital. In addition, since people are in need to have a livelihood to
sustain their needs, they started to build their own, at least a small one to
have an income. Hence, it will result to a competition wherein a variety of
strategies will be used to have more customers buying their goods. It will be
the same or probably a higher deduction on their income compared to
expensive rent for the space and could be also to the capital they'd spent.
Further, whenever there is an occasion like Christmas and New Year
they earn enough from selling vegetables ranging from Php1000 to Php3000
for small vendors, while Php2000 to Php6000 for big one. However, if its
ordinary days, the small vendors earn Php300 to Php500 while big vegetable
vendors earn Php500 to Php1000 per day and the income they earn will be
deducted from the said factors a while ago. Thus, obviously, they would
come up on the stage, I dont have enough income.

Unsound economic policies.

On the other hand, our second superordinate influential factor is the
unsound economic policies. Most of the vegetable vendors especially on the
sidewalk vendor have no idea about the different economic policies that the

government established. In our observation the said vendors cant

distinguish what is SRP or suggested retail price, they merely create their
own ways and created their own prices according to their own principles
based on what they had experienced in selling vegetables. Thats why the
customers buying remain decreasing, because of the high amount they put
on their products, and with this, the Phenomenological Tradition could be
observe in the said situation, because they interpret their experiences and
understands the things by their personal experience.
Moreover, since they are considered as illegal vendor they always
move from different places whenever there is an authority that confiscated
their products. Hence, lack of economic security can be seen in this situation.
However, some of them are insisting to go back to the place where they
usually sell their goods.