CITOM demolition team reactivated

Mayor Tomas Osmeña has approved the recommendation to reactivate the demolition team of the City Traffic Operations Management that is tasked to clear the roads of illegal street vendors.

Osmeña admitted that the function of the CITOM demolition team is a duplication of the job of the City Hall's Squatters Prevention and Encroachment Elimination Division, but he does not mind.

CITOM's executive director Arnel Tancinco said SPEED repeatedly ignored their request to clear roads of illegal vendors who hamper the flow of traffic.

Sr. Insp. Fabio Cedeño, the operations officer of the Cebu City PNP Traffic Group, supported Tancinco's sentiments and said he is happy that the mayor approved the reactivation of the demolition team.

Osmeña is planning to reassign half the personnel currently assigned with SPEED to CITOM's demolition team.

Once CITOM's demolition team is formally reactivated, its personnel will immediately start clearing roads, particularly in the vicinity of the Basilica del Santo Niño.

When the new access road for the South Road Properties was opened at corner D. Jakosalem and M.C. Briones Streets yesterday, motorists complained of the vendors taking up space in the street. - Rene U. Borromeo/BRP