Vendors prefer LGUs to take over MMDA’s street-clearing function

The Metro Manila Vendors Alliance (MMVA) yesterday said they prefer local government units (LGUs) to take over the job of the Metro Manila Development Authority (MMDA) of clearing the streets of illegal vendors.

In a press forum, the MMVA expressed opposition to the proposal of MMDA Chairman Bayani Fernando to transfer its street-clearing function to the Philippine National Police (PNP).

"Ang pagbibigay ng karapatan sa PNP na pamahalaan ang mga vendors ay lalo lamang magdadagdag ng hirap sa mga vendors sa halip na lumutas sa aming mga problema (Giving the PNP right to manage vendors will only add to their sufferings instead of helping solve problems)," MMVA-Quezon City head Baby Panti said.

Panti said that giving the PNP the power to implement the clearing operation could only lead to the proliferation of kotong (corrupt) cops and may only boost the incidence of violence and abuse against vendors.

"Hindi ito trabaho ng pulis. And pulis ang humahabol sa mga kriminal. Subalit ang mga vendors ay hindi kriminal (This is not the job of policemen. Police officers hunt criminals. The vendors are not criminals)," the MMVA pointed out.

According to Panti, the LGUs are in a better position to address their concerns since the LGUs have development plans and resources to implement an organized vending program.

Sanlakas party-list nominee Flora Santos echoed the sentiment of the vendors, noting that under the management of LGUs, there may be a better chance for sincere dialogue between vendors and city governments.

Santos said that since June 2002 when Fernando adopted a "policy of terror" against sidewalk vendors, no room for negotiations were opened both parties.

"Without the reign of terror, vendors are always ready for dialogues with authorities in as much as they are ready to be organized in an orderly and dignified manner while doing their trade," Santos stressed.

Senadora dela Cerna, a vendor at the Sto. Domingo Church in Quezon City, recalled her bitter experience with MMDA personnel.She said that she was not able to enrol her daughter in college after the MMDA personnel confiscated her merchandise worth P11,000 in Sept. 2003.

Last week, Fernando proposed to relegate the task of clearing the sidewalks of illegal vendors back to the LGUs and the PNP. NCRPO chief Ricardo de Leon immediately responded to Fernando’s call, saying the PNP would be ready to take the job.

The MMVA then urged LGUs to sit down with vendors’ associations and help them organize ambulant vendors into legitimate associations to avoid anarchy in the streets and protect them from street syndicates.

However, with only three days to go before the start of the official campaign period for the local polls, the MMDA said that candidates seeking re-election may encounter difficulty in removing illegal vendors in their area.

Fernando said that the upcoming polls could only boost the confidence of vendors to defy efforts of local government officials to rid Metro streets of illegal vendors.

He stressed that allowing illegal vendors to occupy sidewalks could do more harm than good for a candidate because more people can actually benefit from passable roadways.

In the last one and a half years that the MMDA has been clearing streets and sidewalks of illegal vendors, three of its personnel were killed while several others were injured during clashes with defiant groups. Two of its satellite units were also burned.

Fernando said they will still remove road obstructions such as walls and signages that block streets and sidewalks but they will no longer deal with illegal vendors. — With Evelyn Macairan