The head of the City Hall’s Squatter Prevention and Encroachment Elimination Division admitted that his department is not very effective in complying with its mandate due to lack of personnel.
SPEED chief Vicente Mercado said some of his personnel were recalled from his department and placed under the supervision of urban poor consultant Gerry Marquez.
Marquez explained that the transfer of some SPEED personnel directly under his supervision has the approval of Mayor Tomas Osmeña.
Some City Hall officials, and even the public, have criticized the personnel of SPEED for their failure to curb illegal sidewalk occupancy that obstructs the sidewalks and even the roads.
Some traffic enforcers said illegal vendors contribute to worsening traffic, particularly in the downtown area.
“Unsaon nga ang mga vendors, ilabi na og panahon sa hapon, anaa na man maninda sa karsada mao nga ang mga sakyanan maghuot na og hinay na ang pagsibog,” said a traffic enforcer in Colon Street.
Mercado said he wants at least 10 more men. He prefers contractual workers, saying that “Maayo na kay motrabaho g’yod na sila kay kon magtinapolan, dili na man renyohan.”
Osmeña earlier planned to establish a place where the sidewalk vendors can sell their wares, but most of these vendors prefer to operate in sidewalk even if they know that they obstruct the movement of pedestrians. — Rene U. Borromeo/BRP