Arce now heading demolition team

CEBU, Philippines -  Mayor Michael Rama has tapped the services of market administrator Raquel Arce to head City Hall’s clearing personnel in hopes that she will help improve the orderliness of the city’s sidewalk because of her aggressive work attitude.

City Administrator Jose Marie Poblete said the mayor observed that Arce was very aggressive in enforcing the policy of the city against vendors who insist on occupying the prohibited areas in roads near the public markets.

He said MC Briones St. and F. Escaño St. —the road leading to Carbon public market— used to be congested that the vehicles cannot easily pass through it, but Arce was able to clear the road and now it has been restored to two-way to traffic.

Poblete said Rama wants Arce to replicate her aggressive campaign against vendors who do not follow the policy of the city by putting their wares along the sidewalks obstructing the flow of pedestrians.

There are over 70 City Hall personnel who are assigned to the Prevention, Restoration, Order, Beautification and Enforcement (PROBE) that used to be the Squatters Prevention Encroachment and Elimination Division (SPEED) or the city’s clearing team.

After Rama gave her the additional job, Arce quickly warned vendors selling holy images behind the Basilica del Santo Niño not to vend their wares beyond the metal railings and obstruct the flow of traffic.

The FREEMAN observed that vendors have complied with her instructions.

Arce said she will no longer allow the image vendors to sell their wares along Osmeña Blvd. beside the church because she observed that every Friday when the small portion of the road is already closed to traffic the image vendors come in.

“Karong sunod Biyernes dili na ko mosugot nga mosulod sila sa karsada nga maninda kay gituyo na nga dili pasudlan og sakyanan ang atubangan sa simbahan aron dili maghuot ang mga tawo kay daghan man ang mga manimba, apan dili kay aron patindahon sila diha,” said Arce.

Because of reports that some members of the City Hall’s clearing team will extort money or will ask for free food from the vendors, Arce asked for the cooperation of the concerned vendors by informing her of the identities of her personnel saying she will not tolerate their illegal activities.  –BRP (FREEMAN)