CEBU, Philippines — The Cebu City government has warned sidewalk vendors that they will be booted off the streets if they do not observe rules and regulations.
The warning came after seven vendors were found violating the conditions set by the city government, a week after they were allowed to return to their vending spots.
Raquel Arce, head of the city’s Prevention, Restoration, Order, Beautification, Enhancement (PROBE) team, said most of the vendors were complaint except for the seven in Osmeña Boulevard and North Reclamation Area.
Arce said violators were given a stern warning that the next time they are caught they will be barred from vending on the sidewalks.
According to Arce, the sidewalk vendors themselves suggested during their meeting last Thursday to strictly implement the rules and regulations starting next week.
“Sa sunod semana, kun padayon sila nga magpabadlong adto na gyud na sila tangtangon sa ilang mga area. Dili gyud ta mosugot nga maglisod og agi ang mga tawo sa mga sidewalk,” Arce said.
The street vendors are only allowed to occupy 2.5 meters of the sidewalks to allow enough passage for pedestrians.
Sidewalk vendors were allowed to return to selected areas in the city for a trial period of one month while the city government is still formulating an ordinance on how to regulate them.
At least 600 vendors are allowed to sell their products along Osmeña Boulevard, Colon, Magallanes, Manalili, D. Jakosalem, Plaridel, Leon Kilat, and Sanciangko.
It was in 2019 that vendors were cleared from the streets upon the order of President Rodrigo Duterte to clear all sidewalks and roads from obstructions.
The city government reactivated the Garbo Asenso Sumbanan Alyansa (GASA) to address the concerns of street vendors.
Councilor Renato Osmeña Jr., chairman of committee on market along with PROBE, City Enforcement Sanitation and Enforcement Team (CESET), Market Operation Division, Department for the Welfare of the Urban Poor (DWUP), Cebu City Anti Mendicancy Board, Cebu City Transportation Office (CCTO), and Cebu City United Vendors Association officials inspected the city’s sidewalks the other day and found some violators.
The city government only allows vendors to display their products from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. Fridays to Mondays for a trial period during the whole month of July. — FPL (FREEMAN)