Tom to check if vendors complied with order to clear sidewalks

Mayor Tomas Osmeña will personally inspect the vending sites of sidewalk vendors who were given additional 48 hours to comply with the requirements set by the City Traffic Operations Management.

The other day, the city's Squatters Prevention and Encroachment Elimination Division was about to clear Colon Street of vendors who still failed to comply with the restrictions imposed by CITOM, but the vendors had appealed for more time for compliance.

Even after the two weeks notice given to them, some vendors still insisted on occupying the sidewalks because they have been reportedly paying rent to the building owners. But city urban poor consultant Gerry Marquez said sidewalks are property of the government and are for public use.

Osmeña also warned he will not hesitate to exercise the city's police powers should the vendors still insist on occupying their current location. The CITOM has recommended at least 1.5-meter leeway for pedestrians to be able to use the sidewalks.

Of the 14 streets CITOM earlier found to be problematic, only five are recommended to be open for vending, including Colon and Magallanes streets and Fuente Osmeña. The nine other streets are recommended cleared of vendors.

These include B. Rodriguez Street from Fuente Osmeña Rotunda to corner B. Rodriguez Extension, C. Solon Drive, N. Bacalso Avenue from South Bus Terminal to Elizabeth Mall, P. Lopez Street beside the University of San Jose-Recoletos, Legazpi Street near Young's Terminal, Panganiban Street near Cebu City Medical Center, Leon Kilat Street from Gaisano South to Sanciangko and corner Colon Street, junction of Salinas Drive and Gorordo Avenue from Escario to Archbishop Reyes Avenue. - Joeberth M. Ocao