Vendors decry stall demolition

DESPITE warnings of demolition should they occupy major parts of the sidewalks, vendors cried foul on Friday, claiming those demolished were well within the one-third width of the sidewalk they were allowed.

Sidewalk vendors, who positioned themselves along the streets of San Pedro and C.M Recto, turned emotional as the authorities started breaking down their stalls.

City Mayors Office-Drainage Management Unit Chief Yusuf Jimlani had earlier set and warned vendors that the demolition of stalls that violate the two-third, one-third policy would start Friday, August 23. The policy set out by the mayor is that vendors will only occupy one-third of the width of a sidewalk and leave the two-thirds to pedestrians.

One vendor said he already complied with the policy but the authorities insisted on confiscating his items.

Jimlani said the citys operation has only one objective to control the sidewalk vendors from taking over the entire stretch of the sidewalk and give space to pedestrians.

Dili man sila angay mabalaka. Kay kung disiplinado sila, dili ni mahitabo nga pagpatuman. Ang problema sa ila, dili sila musugot nga ipatuman nga si mayor naman mismo nag ingon nga (They should not have had any cause of concern. Had they disciplined themselves this would not have happened. The problem is even as the mayor himself already ordered this, they refuse to follow), he said.

Jimlani said sidewalk vendors continue to violate the one-third, two-third policy, thus, it is about time to implement stricter rules.

Dili man sila musugot sa legal na pamaagi (They do not want the legal way), Jimlani said.

Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte had consistently told vendors to only occupy one-third of the width of a sidewalk and leave two-thirds to pedestrians. But vendors would always insist on using more than half of the sidewalk, forcing pedestrians to walk on the road.

Duterte has again reiterated this rule and warned those who will defy this that their stalls will be confiscated.

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Vendors decry stall demolition