Organized vending a success in Manila

Although there was a considerable increase in the number of vendors and holiday shoppers this Christmas season, most streets and sidewalks in Manila’s shopping areas, especially the major thoroughfares, remained open for use of pedestrians and motorists.

What spelled the difference, according to Manila Mayor Lito Atienza, is the city government’s organized vending program, which has benefited thousands of vendors.

"Many of the vendors in the city are now organized, more disciplined and are protected because we have legitimized their means of livelihood. We were also able to keep the major thoroughfares open or use of pedestrians and motorists. Our organized vending program was able to address the desire of the vendors to earn a decent living without sacrificing public interest," explained Atienza.

Except for isolated incidents such as the attempt of some opportunistic vendors to sell their wares in no-vending areas such as Juan Luna and Ilaya streets, important access routes to Divisoria, there were no problems even with the high volume of vendors and shoppers.

This is in direct contrast to the situation in other areas in Metro Manila such as Baclaran in Pasay and Cloverleaf in Quezon City, which the Metro Manila Development Authority (MMDA) declared as totally off limits to vendors.

Except for a few weeks when MMDA operatives continuously conducted clearing operations, the situation in the said areas even deteriorated, with vendors occupying every available space and virtually sealing them off to pedestrians and motorists.

"The success of our organized vending program, especially during the critical month of December, just proves that we were correct in our assessment. The fact that we were able to effectively control the situation in our vending areas especially this Christmas season means that our program was effective," Atienza pointed out.

While stressing that he shares the objective of the MMDA in ridding the streets and sidewalks in the metropolis of obstructions, Atienza is still hoping that Manila’s organized vending program could be used as model to address the situation in other areas in Metro Manila.

"As we have said in the past, we really want the MMDA to succeed in its campaign against illegal obstructions, this is why we have accelerated our on program so that Chairman Fernando would not have to worry about Manila," Atienza said.