MMDA to resume sidewalk clearing

Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) chairman Bayani Fernando announced yesterday that the anti-illegal vending campaign and sidewalk clearing operations will resume in full force soon.

"We are just establishing and reorganizing our anti-vendors operations team," Fernando told reporters.

Members of the sidewalk clearing teams who had been given new assignments at the traffic division after Fernando temporarily shelved the program are being recalled to the sidewalk clearing operation. The MMDA is also recruiting additional personnel.

For his part, sidewalk clearing operations chief Roberto Esquivel said the cities of Caloocan, Quezon, Pasay, Muntinlupa, Parañaque, Valenzuela and the municipality of Pateros have asked the MMDA to assist them in removing the illegal vendors and other obstructions in their areas.

To be removed from the sidewalks and roads are unserviceable equipment, signboards and other structures or items that commonly block the path of pedestrians and motorists.

Last February, Fernando temporarily shelved the program after reportedly receiving criticisms and minimal support from city and municipal officials.

"But later, we received a direct request to conduct sidewalk clearing operations from Valenzuela, Caloocan and Muntinlupa. In other areas, some barangay officials sent requests through their mayors," Esquivel said.

He said newly elected Valenzuela Mayor Sherwin Gatchalian has asked the MMDA to assist them in removing obstructions along the sidewalk. The MMDA began clearing roads in Valenzuela three weeks ago.

Last month, the MMDA confiscated a Komatsu 12 bulldozer that was parked at the 7th Avenue and Baltazar street in Caloocan City. They learned it was owned by a barangay captain who happens to own a junk shop.

Esquivel said the impounding of the bulldozer should serve as a lesson to erring officials. They would bill him for the personnel and equipment utilized, including a crane and trailer bed that haul off the heavy utility vehicle.

Apart from the P10,000 cost, the barangay captain should also pay for the daily storage fee.

Fernando said: "Kahit barko pa ang ilagay niya sa bangketa kaya namin tanggalin iyan. The barangay officials are among the top violators when it comes to obstructions."

He said he would not hesitate to demolish anything that continue to obstruct the sidewalks.

The anti-illegal vendor operation had been the most controversial program of the MMDA as critics called it anti-poor and more often than not resulted in violent clashes.

Fernando argued that the MMDA must show "a posture of strength to deter people from doing violent acts against us."

"In the eyes of the general public, it may look overly aggressive, but in fact they (MMDA personnel) are made to look aggressive as a deterrent," he said. "It is kind of difficult in many cases to find fault in such incidents as provocation can come from people with own personal interests."

The violent clashes between illegal sidewalk vendors and the MMDA have resulted in several deaths and injuries from both sides.

SONA Clearing

The National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) cleared Commonwealth Avenue in Quezon City yesterday of illegal vendors and other obstructions as part of its final preparations for President Arroyo’s state of the nation address (SONA) at the Batasang Pambansa on Monday.

NCRPO chief Director Ricardo de Leon, head of the Task Force Kalayaan, ordered personnel of Task Force Daloy to rid Commonwealth Avenue of illegal vendors and stalled vehicles in time for the SONA.

"All possible obstructions along the thoroughfare will be removed to ensure the smooth flow of vehicular and pedestrian traffic on Monday," De Leon said.

He added that the clearing operation will effectively lessen the anticipated gridlock along Commonwealth as at least 8,000 rallyists from militant and cause-oriented groups are expected to stage mass protest actions to coincide with the SONA.

De Leon met with rally leaders last Wednesday and both sides agreed to do their share in ensuring a peaceful and orderly holding of protest actions during the SONA, which marks the opening of the 13th Congress.

President Arroyo is expected to lay down her five-point agenda aimed at generating jobs and improving tax collections.

The NCRPO chief has coordinated with the Office of the Sergeant-at-Arms of the two Houses, Armed Forces of the Philippines and the Presidential Security Group (PSG) to prepare overall security coverage for the event. – with Non Alquitran