Lim orders clearing of Divisoria

After re-opening Carriedo Street in Sta. Cruz, Manila,  Mayor Alfredo Lim announced yesterday that the  next targets of clearing operations will be the Divisoria area and the Muelle del Rio Street at the back of the Bureau of Immigration in Intramuros.

Lim yesterday led the re-opening of the Carriedo Street, connecting Quezon Boulevard to Rizal Avenue (Avenida). They relocated some 100 vendors, who previously occupied the closed street and the sidewalks.

“The road is for motorists and we cannot put stalls in the middle. The roads are not for commerce, they are for vehicles and motorists. We should give attention to all sectors,” Lim said.

Lim, however, clarified that they also made provisions for the vendors and allocated one square meter of the sidewalk for the street hawkers that will not block the pedestrians.

He also reiterated his warning to police officials, barangay officials and employees of the Manila City Hall to stop extorting money from the vendors.

The 77-year-old mayor also allowed the use of a portion of Carriedo Street as a parking space for the devotees of the Minor Basilica of the Black Nazarene, better known as the Black Nazarene in Quiapo during Fridays.

“It is the right of the devotees of the church to occupy the lanes here. At present, they only park their vehicles along Quezon Boulevard. But once they use Carriedo Street, they can exit through Evangelista Street and Carriedo.

Yesterday marked Lim’s one-month in office and while he had returned Carriedo and Rizal Avenue to the motorists, he would also attend to other requests such as making the Muelle del Rio St. at the back of the National Press Club (NPC) and the Bureau of Immigration (BI), open to traffic.

He said motorists, private and public, going to the South Harbor could use the Muelle del Rio Street, while those proceeding to Liwasang Bonifacio could pass through P. Burgos Street.

“We hope to ease the traffic by Aug. 15,” he said.

Lim also had to check on the traffic situation in Divisoria. He had received complaints that buses and other vehicle terminals have caused problems in the area.  – Evelyn Macairan