Larsian vendors move to new site

Barbecue vendors at Larsian finally left the place yesterday after a joint team from the Cebu City Hall and Capitol demolished their stalls.

Provincial treasurer Roy Salubre said the owners of the 24 remaining stalls near Fuente Osmeña Rotunda agreed to voluntarily tear down their structures after almost a month's extension given to them by the city government.

The stalls were supposed to be demolished last December because the area is owned by the province and was designated as a road-right-of-way. Mayor Tomas Osmeña, however, granted the vendors' request to let them stay at the area until after the Sinulog because Larsian is one of the favorite hangouts of Cebuanos and even tourists.

The demolition was carried out by the city's Squatters Prevention Encroachment and Elimination Division or SPEED and by the province's support staff from the engineering and general services office.

The barbecue vendors were transferred to a new site, called New Larsian, a 1,900 square meter property owned by the provincial government near M. Cue Street. There, 46 new stalls were built by Coca Cola Bottlers, Inc. for the barbecue vendors, with the agreement that the company will be the exclusive dealer of softdrinks to the vendors occupying their stalls. -Cristina C. Birondo/QSB