By LITO RULONA Correspondent THE city council’s health and sanitation committee would be proposing a ban on ambulant vendors near public schools in the city. Councilor Ma. Lourdes Gaane said this even as she announced that the health committee, which she chairs, is on the process of completing a study on a proposed ordinance that would prohibit ambulant vendors from selling within a 50-meter radius from any school in the city. Gaane, a physician by profession, said the proposed ordinance would complement guidelines on food safety in school canteens issued by the Department of Education in 2008. Dr. Fe Bongcas of the City Health Office said the Deped order only focuses on food safety in school canteens. Bongcas cited the prohibition on the sale of  softdrinks and junk food in schools. “It is an advocacy nga maoy ibutang sa canteen, so wala sila’y hold outside the school,” she said. Bongcas cited a problem: ambulant vendors don’t secure sanitary permits from city hall. During the committee meeting on Thursday, Gaane said she was disturbed to see ambulant vendors near the City Central School on A. Velez Street and other public schools in the city. But Gaane said the vendors should provided with relocation areas by the local government. “Dili ta man kini sila ipapahawa apan ipahiluna kini sa atong siyudad para mamahimong presentable to the public,” she said. Meanwhile, Bongcas announced that the City Health Office would be conducting sanitary inspections in schools before the start of classes. (lito rulona)