Manila vendors foil MMDA clearing team

MANILA, Philippines - A Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) team failed to clear Palanca street – a designated mabuhay lane – in Quiapo, Manila of obstructions after street vendors ganged up on them yesterday morning.

Ed Lara, co-leader of the MMDA’s Task Force Mabuhay, said they had cleared the street of illegally parked “kuligligs” or improvised tricycles at around 8 a.m. and were about to remove vendors’ stalls, which clogged up the street, when they were approached by angry vendors.

He said the vendors demanded that the MMDA stop the clearing operation, arguing that they have permits given by the city government allowing them to peddle their wares on Palanca street after they were displaced from the Quinta public market, demolished in July.  

Lara said local barangay officials later arrived but to the surprise of the MMDA, instead of assisting in the clearing, the barangay officials sided with the vendors.

“The officials said there was no place to put the vendors. They did not give us a commitment to clear the street,” he said. 

Lara said the MMDA personnel were forced to leave to avoid a confrontation with the vendors.

“We just requested the barangay officials that they clear the street just for the APEC (Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation) summit next week. They should give the street back to the motorists,” he said.

The MMMDA earlier said it is rushing to clear the designated mabuhay lanes, which are alternate routes motorists may take to avoid EDSA, by the end of this week.

Earlier this month, the MMDA aborted an operation to clear Annapolis street in San Juan after city officials questioned the legality of the operation.

The Department of Interior and Local Government has issued a memorandum ordering local government units to cooperate in operations to clear mabuhay lanes of obstructions.