Rama suspends demolition of Sto. Niño stalls

Cebu City acting mayor Michael Rama has temporarily put off plans to demolish the illegal structures of Sto. Niño vendors along D. Jakosalem Street corner Osmeña Boulevard.

The City Hall’s Squatters Prevention Encroachment and Elimination Division is supposed to tear down the stalls, which allegedly hamper the traffic in the area, last Wednesday.

 “Wala ta’y mahimo kay mora man og mikakak. Kami andam g’yod mi kanunay pero unsaon man nga duna ma’y order nga dili usa idayon,” said SPEED chief Vicente Mercado.

The move was criticized by some vendors including Merlinda Amora-Batiller, who had strongly urged the city to tear down the illegal structures.

Batiller is the sister of Haide “Basan” Amora, the president of Sto. Niño Sidewalk Vendors Association, who is accused by his members of abusing his possession by putting up makeshift stalls at the corner D. Jakosalem Street corner Osmeña Boulevard and unfair treatment on his members.

“Ang akong maguwang nga si Basan nanabi nga dili g’yod mabungkag ang ilang tindahan kay hapit na kuno ang eleksyon. Mahadlok kuno ang mga politiko nga mawad-an sila og botante,” Batiller said.

She and her two sisters, including their father, former city employee Constantino Amora, went to City Hall yesterday to demand for the demolition of the makeshift stalls because it is unfair to them that they were not given their vending space by Basan who is allegedly occupying a wide space.

Mercado said he and his men were all ready prepared to demolish the vendors’ stalls last Wednesday, but received an urgent call to suspend the operation.

A member of the demolition team recalled that the case of Sto. Niño vendors was not the first time that Rama cancelled a supposed demolition against illegal structures.

He recalled that earlier, Rama also put off their supposed operation to destroy the illegal structures in the seawaters of barangay Pasil that are allegedly owned by councilman Leon Dakay.

A City Hall official said that if Rama is really serious in implementing the law, he should be firm in his decision because he is planning to run as city mayor in the 2010 elections. — Rene U. Borromeo/WAB   (THE FREEMAN)