Sto. Niño stalls to be demolished anew

CEBU - The city government is once again set to demolish the makeshift stalls of the Sto. Niño image vendors along D. Jakosalem St. corner Osmeña Blvd.

The City Hall’s Squatters Prevention Encroachment Elimination Division is expected to tear down the structures at 8 a.m. today.

SPEED chief Vicente Mercado said he had received a written order from acting Mayor Michael Rama directing him to clear the area of whatever obstacles, including sidewalk vendors.

Some of the vendors headed by Merlinda “Inday” Batiller welcomed the move as she accused her brother, Haide “Basan” Amora, who is the president of the Sto. Niño Sidewalk Vendors Association, of occupying a huge portion of the sidewalk that allegedly obstructs the traffic.

Rama’s executive officer Ryan Go and some other City Hall personnel have already inspected the side last Monday afternoon and warned the vendors of the impending demolition.

“Pirmi man lang na nga dunay demolition diha pero mamalik ra man gihapon. Maayo unta og dili na g’yod sila tugotan nga makabalik,” one of the vendors occupying the concrete stalls said.

Last January, a few days before the Sinulog celebration, the city tore down at least 13 illegal structures and obstructions along D. Jakosalem St. Since then, the city had conducted several demolitions in the area already because the vendors keep on returning there.  

Batiller criticized her brother for taking advantage of his position by having a huge vending space at the corner of the two streets.

She said her brother should no longer be given the chance to have a vending space near the gate because he was already provided with a space at the concrete stalls donated by the Young Builders Corporation to the city.

City Hall officials earlier promised to verify from the original list of occupants that was made sometime in 2001 when Mayor Tomas Osmeña allowed the Santo Niño image vendors to use the stalls free of rent for a period of three years.

Batiller is not in good terms with Amora because of the latter’s alleged unfair treatment of his members. –Rene U. Borromeo/WAB   (THE FREEMAN)