Cebu City demolition team seizes flowers near church

CEBU, Philippines - Around 20 flower vendors near the Sto. Rosario Parish Church lost a significant portion of their income yesterday after the Cebu City Prevention Restoration Order Beautification confiscated their products for allegedly blocking the P. Del Rosario Street sidewalk.

Marina Cosido, 42, said she lost P15,000 worth of flowers, leaves, baskets, and foams after the Probe personnel took them without any notice or warning at 11 a.m. yesterday.

“Kalit lang nilang gihulbot ug gihakot akong baligya. Akong gikuha apan wa gyud koy nahimo. Wa silay puangod namong pobre nga nanginabuhi,” she said.

Cosido said she has been selling flowers in the area fronting a fast-food restaurant for 25 years yesterday was the first time Probe conducted a clearing operation.

A visibly angry Cosido said her flowers were taken even if these did not obstruct the passageway because they were placed beside her stall.

Nelfe Benabento and Alexander Monteclar suffered the same fate. Benabento lost P12,000 worth of flowers while, Monteclar also lost around P5,000 of her goods.

“Gidiretso og kuha ang mga buwak then gikarga sa ilang sakyanan.  Og among badlungon moingon ang Probe nga iapil mi’g karga. Nahimutang nga ilang gikawat among baligya,” Monteclar said.

The flower vendors said the city government has no consideration and conscience amid the observance of All Saints’ and All Souls’ Days.

“Wa mi kauyon sa ilang di makatawo nga gibuhat. Wa sila’y konsiderasyon nga kausa raman ni sa usa ka tuig,” Benabeto said.

They appealed for the city to allow them to sell at the sidewalk until tomorrow.

“Ang appeal namo ni Mayor Rama nga hinaot unta hatagan mi’g luna ug kaluoy, kaming mga pobre, bisan two days lang,” Monteclar said.

Probe, though, argued that they have given early notice to the vendors through verbal warning that they immediately remove their products that are impeding the sidewalk, following the directive of Mayor Michael Rama.

“Basta magsamok-samok sa  dalan  nga maka-cause og traffic and magbaligya sa sidewalk, hinungdan nga wala nay makaagi; kana ang instruction nako. Ana, empty ang sidewalk,” he told reporters.

Rama assured that “maximum tolerance” is granted to vendors as long as they “follow instructions, give space for walkers, and give absolute space for the vehicles.”

“Absolutely wala’y ali sa dalan and sidewalk,” he said.—Kristine B. Quintas/RHM (FREEMAN)