Vendors to hold rally vs. Tomas' demolition order

The Cebu City United Vendors Association will hold a rally today to protest the order of Mayor Tomas Osmeña clearing the sidewalks of vendors.

However, Osmeña yesterday said the rally would not stall his order, which was apparently aimed at clearing the streets of vendors in preparation for the Association of Southeast Asian Nations Summit in December.

Maria Pino, CCUVA chairperson, said they would start marching at 1:00 p.m. today from "Tabo sa Banay" near Gaisano Metro to the Cebu City Hall where they will hold a picket rally against the mayor's order.

Pino said there are about 3,000 sidewalk vendors who would be affected by the demolition. "This (rally) is to show to the mayor and people that many would be affected by the demolition. We are asking for respect for our rights."

In a press conference sponsored by women's groups yesterday, Pino said that another option that they would consider is to have a dialogue with Osmeña about the issue.

She explained that if the purpose of the mayor is to clear the roads of sidewalk vendors to ease traffic, her group could suggest other options to him.

Also yesterday, Osmeña made a "strong distinction" between CCUVA and the ordinary vendors, saying that he does not agree with the way CCUVA seemed to be acting as a "protection agency" for the vendors each time there is demolition.

He said that while he is open to a dialogue, he would only negotiate with the vendors and not with the officers of CCUVA, whose influence on the vendors and even reportedly on the Squatters Prevention, Encroachment and Elimination Division is the reason why SPEED personnel are being rotated.

Osmeña believes that CCUVA has lost its ability to negotiate and help regulate the vendors so that they would not end up as nuisance in the streets, alleging that CCUVA seemed to be "exploiting" the vendors for the fees that the organization collects.

CCUVA officials, in earlier interviews, have said the money goes to the organization's operations that include maintenance of the areas that the vendors occupy and payment of security.

Osmeña said he would ask the barangay officials to consult with the vendors on the issue but has denied that the reason for their eviction is to beautify the streets for the ASEAN Summit.

The mayor said that City Traffic Operations Management should not make beautification as a reason to demolish the stalls but to ensure that pedestrians are safe in the streets and traffic runs smooth.

Osmeña had approved the report by the CITOM identifying stalls that have become a nuisance to pedestrians and gave two weeks for the vendors to relocate peacefully or they would be forcibly made to vacate.

Those considered nuisances are stalls that hamper pedestrians to use the sidewalks and force them to walk in the main streets especially during peak hours.

In its report, CITOM identified Colon Street, Fuente Osmeña Rotunda, junction of Salinas Drive and Gorordo Avenue, B. Rodriguez Street, Jose Solon Drive, N. Bacalso Avenue, Magallanes Street, P. Lopez Street, Osmeña Boulevard, P. del Rosario Street, Legaspi Street, Pelaez Street, Panganiban Street and Leon Kilat Street as having the most number of vendors.

Osmeña had said that the city government would not provide a relocation site for vendors whose stalls may be demolished. - Joeberth M. Ocao and Wenna A. Berondo