City to regulate sidewalk vending

CEBU, Philippines — Cebu City Mayor Edgardo Labella has assured the sidewalk vendors affected by the road clearing operations that they will be allowed to go back to their vending area if they agree to the regulations set by the city government.

Labella said the market administrator and the head of the Prevention, Restoration, Order, Beautification, Enhancement (PROBE) are meeting today to discuss the specific areas to be assigned to the vendors.

Several vendors trooped to City Hall yesterday where they held a protest rally following the sidewalk clearing operations conducted by the members of PROBE led by Raquel Arce.

Labella went out of his office to face the vendors and assured them that they may be allowed to return to their respective places if they follow the regulations.

The mayor clarified that the clearing operations will continue in compliance with the directive from the Department of the Interior and Local Government's (DILG) to clear the public roads to avoid traffic congestion.

Meanwhile, Vice Mayor Michael Rama said that the right of the sidewalk vendors, "street traders" as he calls them, to livelihood needs to be "balanced against the rights of the people to orderly traffic and management of our sidewalk."

"We are meeting a deadline to clear the roads of all obstruction but we have to find a place where to build a market for them," said Rama.

Rama wishes to provide a new vending site that would be attended by the local and national government. He said the people of Cebu City and the city government should work together to make the lives of the vendors "better and the best."

Rama believes that street and sidewalk vendors contribute to the city's underground economy.

Councilor Alvin Dizon also expressed his concern on the impact of the clearing operations to the street vendors.

"Street vendors do not deserve our castigation. They deserve our recognition," said Dizon

He added that the DILG memorandum circular encourages local government units to develop and implement strategies that will address the displacement issues caused by the clearing of roads. — FPL (FREEMAN)