'Newer' Colon sidewalk vendors face demolition

Newer sidewalk vendors along Colon St. will be facing demolition anytime as City Hall is getting more and more complaints from business establishments.

Cebu City Mayor Tomas Osmeña said yesterday that he continues to get complaints about sidewalk vendors "sprouting like mushrooms" along the country's oldest street.

In his regular press conference yesterday, Osmeña, however, said that original vendors occupying the city streets will stay. He said City Hall has its own record to determine who are the original ambulant vendors in the area.

"But definitely those who are new have to go. Whether they are Muslims, Pakistani or whatever nationality, they have to go so that we have to clear the already congested street," Osmeña said.

Last June, the city's Squatter Prevention and Encroachment Elimination Division evicted around 20 ambulant vendors along Colon Street but they eventually returned.

Osmeña said those who will be evicted will not be given any relocation site. - Mitchelle P. Calipayan