Over 80 sidewalk vendors lose stalls in demolition

More than 80 sidewalk vendors from the stretch of corner Leon Kilat Street to Osmeña Boulevard lost their stalls yesterday after these were demolished by the city government in response to mounting complaints filed by owners of business establishments in the area.

Gerry Marquez, Cebu City Urban Poor consultant, said that many of the affected vendors voluntarily tore down their stalls, paving the way for a peaceful demolition.

Marquez said majority of the vendors, who are members of the Cebu City United Vendors Association, were earlier given notice of the schedule of the demolition.

Last week, the Squatters Prevention and Encroachment Elimination Division carried out an eviction of at least 50 vendors from the sidewalks of Colon Street, particularly from the corner of Leon Kilat to P. Lopez streets.

Marquez, together with the officers of CCUVA headed by Maria Pino-Buanghug, will be meeting with Mayor Tomas Osmeña today on who among the sidewalk vendors evicted yesterday will be allowed to go back.

Marquez said that the mayor has a standing order that only those who are original occupants, based on his list and that of the vendors' association, will be allowed to go back.