Problematique Map 6b6h58

PROBLEMATIC MAP

High prices of goods

Low income

Unsound economic policies

Expensive rent of the space Too many competitors

lack of security

economic

I DON’T 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 don’t 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. That’s why it’s 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 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 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 it’s 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 don’t 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 can’t 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. That’s 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.