City parks to decide on eviction of vendors at Magellan's Cross

Mayor Tomas Osmeña yesterday gave the Cebu City Parks and Playground Commission the discretion to decide whether to pursue the eviction of vendors at the Magellan's Cross Park after the six vendors concerned pleaded to have the demolition slated this Monday stalled.

"They should address their complaint to the commission. Until there are no changes, the demolition will take place," Osmeña said.

Councilor Nestor Archival, chairman of the Parks and Playground Commission, said the decision will depend upon the members of the commission, and not only on him.

He said that he will discuss this concern raised by the vendors on Monday during their board meeting.

"We will implement it on Monday then discuss on whether we will allow them to go back," Archival said.

The commission recommended to Osmeña a "no vendor policy" at the area in order to maintain the aesthetic beauty of the park.

The vendors will not be given any relocation site if they will be evicted from the area. Osmeña believes the problem would only become complicated because if the vendors would be given a relocation site, they reportedly would not accept just any area and would seek for a relocation site where they can best sell their goods.

"The relocation of the vendors is much more demanding than that of the urban poor," Osmeña said, adding that there is a "flawed policy in the markets" because of the "culture of permanence."

The letter signed by the six vendors read, "we understand the objective of the commission for the beautification of the park but we take cognizance of the existing Magellan's Cross which is one of the tourist destinations. It is of common knowledge that tourist either foreigner or domestic, look for souvenir items that can bring back home," the letter read.

These vendors sell T-shirts, native crafts, burloloys and other souvenir items.

Gerry Marquez, urban poor consultant of the City Hall, yesterday said the Magellan's Cross Park will soon be cleared of vendors as the city's anti-squatting team had already sent them notices to voluntarily vacate the premises otherwise they will be demolished.

Marquez clarified this was supposed to be done immediately after the Sinulog celebration. - Garry B. Lao