EDITORIAL - Social justice and the rights of sidewalk vendors

It seems that Cebu City Vice Mayor Michael Rama has some reservations about the ongoing campaign of the local government clearing roads and sidewalks around the city, especially in the downtown area, of ambulant vendors.

Rama, a former mayor, said he wants the national government to intervene in drive to clear Colon Street, the country’s oldest street, of vendors, saying social justice should not be compromised in the campaign.

Rama wrote a letter to the Office of the President through Senator Christopher Lawrence “Bong” Go seeking for a meeting with President Rodrigo Duterte on the issue, hoping for the Palace’s intervention in the clearing of Colon and Osmeña Boulevard.

“I was mayor once and I have addressed this group… I know that they will listen. My worry now is whether the national or local governments are addressing the effects of the road clearing like starvation and dislocation,” Rama said, referring to the vendors. “Colon Street looks better… Osmeña Boulevard looks better… the question that remains – where are the poor people now)?”

While the vice mayor clarified that he is not against the president’s directive to clear roads and sidewalks of vendors and illegal structures, he wants both the national and local governments to also look into the welfare of those affected.

Being a politician and a local official, Rama’s stand on the clearing campaign is understandable. However, while he wants the rights of the vendors respected and social justice to prevail, his statement does not offer any concrete suggestion as to what City Hall should do to those affected in the ongoing drive.

We should admit the fact that before the series of clearing operations by the new administration, many observed the chaotic presence of illegal vendors mushrooming around the downtown area had been an eyesore and a major obstruction along the sidewalks.

Of course, the Labella administration should see to it those affected vendors are properly relocated.