‘No vendor on the street policy’ stays in Manila

Manila Mayor Lito Atienza ordered yesterday the Western Police District-Traffic Management Group (WPD-TMG) to strictly implement the "no vendor on the streets" policy in Divisoria to ensure the free flow of traffic in the area, especially during the Yuletide season.

"We must see to it that streets are not clogged with vendors because traffic is one of the biggest factors in trading," said Atienza. He issued the directive to Senior Superintendent Elmer Jamias and Superintendent Juanito de Guzman, chiefs of the TMG and WPD Station 11 (Binondo and Divisoria area), respectively.

Atienza with some local government officials and members of the media inspected Divisoria yesterday morning to check if the WPD is implementing the "no vendor on the streets" policy of the city government.

The mayor and his entourage walked along Juan Luna streets towards C.M. Recto Avenue as he talked with vendors to refrain from occupying the streets. The vendors gave affirmative responses to Atienza.

As the Christmas season starts, traders from different points of the country are expected to flock to Divisoria, which is considered the trading center of the country.

Atienza earlier said the city government would not allow vendors to ply their trade on the streets in Divisoria and Binondo even during the Christmas season. Instead, vendors would be given space on the sidestreets.

In the past years, vendors used to occupy all the major and minor streets in Divisoria and Binondo, which caused monstrous traffic jams.

At the same time, Atienza urged the public to do their Christmas shopping in Divisoria, where "shopping centers range from low end to the high end. You can buy imported, high-priced goods in the same manner that you can buy a pair of jeans for as low as P100."

Aside from affordability and quality of consumer goods, Atienza said, shopping in Manila would be an enjoyable, safe and hassle-free experience. — Cecille Suerte Felipe