Nuisance sidewalk stalls set for demolition soon

Sidewalk vendors may have to start packing their goods after Mayor Tomas Osmeña approved the report by the City Traffic Operations Management identifying stalls that have become a nuisance to pedestrians.

Osmeña said yesterday that he is giving the vendors two weeks to relocate peacefully or face demolition. An inspection will be done in the streets identified by CITOM and Osmeña said the traffic group might immediately demolish stalls that are obvious nuisances.

Those the mayor considered nuisances are stalls that hamper the sidewalks and force pedestrians to walk in the main street especially during peak hours.

In its report, CITOM identified Colon Street, Fuente Osmeña Rotunda, junction of Salinas Drive and Gorordo Avenue, B. Rodriguez Street, Jose Solon Drive, N. Bacalso Avenue, Magallanes Street, P. Lopez Street, Osmeña Boulevard, P. del Rosario Street, Legaspi Street, Pelaez Street, Panganiban Street and Leon Kilat Street as having the most number of sidewalk vendors.

"The following are the list of locations/streets where vendors are observed to be occupying the sidewalk or a portion of the sidewalk causing obstruction to the pedestrians passing in the area, thereby forcing the pedestrians to be at the roadway (and) exposing them to danger," the report reads.

Osmeña also said the city government would not provide a relocation site for vendors whose stalls may be demolished in two weeks. "I've given up trying to relocate because they want to relocate in the main roads."

The mayor, however, does not discount the possibility of losing many votes should the demolition pushes through, but he said his duty should prevail over political concerns.

"Oh, I'm going to lose votes but it's still my job to implement the law," he said, adding that the same also goes to CITOM whose primary mandate is to ensure the safety of pedestrians and smooth flow of traffic.

Gerry Marquez, the City Hall urban poor consultant, said he already started to meet with vendors' organizations on the CITOM's report and the mayor's plan. - Joeberth M. Ocao