Mayor Tomas Osmeña changed his mind when he granted the request of the Sto. Niño image vendors to reopen their stalls that were padlocked by City Hall personnel in a dawn operation two weeks ago, but strictly warned them to refrain from making their stalls only as stockrooms.
The closure came when Osmeña got fed up with the abuses of some of these image vendors who insisted on expanding their stalls despite constant warnings of the Squatters Prevention and Encroachment Elimination Division and the mayor’s task force.
Almost all of the more than 30 concrete stalls constructed by Young Builders Corporation in 2001 were entrusted to these vendors, free of charge. But some of the vendors used pushcarts as their rolling stores. This gave City Hall officials the headache because these vendors were already blocking the entrance of the Basilica del Sto. Niño along Osmeña Boulevard.
They had been repeatedly warned by City Hall officials not to encroach into the road so as not to worsen traffic congestions, but the warning fell on deaf ears.
After the closure, vendors assured Osmeña they would now behave and follow the policy of the city. The mayor changed his mind and gave them another chance. Stalls were reopened yesterday. — Rene U. Borromeo/MEEV