Clearing teams told: Stop bickering, work together

CEBU, Philippines - Acting Mayor Michael Rama yesterday told members of the city’s clearing teams to stop bickering and focus their attention on working hard to clear the streets and sidewalks of any obstacles.

Rama yesterday visited the office of the Squatters Prevention and Encroachment Elimination Division at the Taboan public market to initiate a meeting with SPEED chief Vicente Mercado and Gerry Marquez, the consultant of the Division for the Welfare of Urban Poor.

Mercado and Marquez are reportedly not in good terms because the latter allegedly always “intervenes” in the conduct of clearing operations by SPEED personnel.

Another reported cause of the rift is the re-assignment of seven SPEED personnel from Mercado’s team to direct supervision of Marquez.

Mercado had questioned why, that despite the transfer, the seven personnel still continued to wear SPEED t-shirts.

“Binuang man kaayo na kay kon pananglit makahimo sila og dili maayo, kami diri sa SPEED ang mapasanginlan,” Mercado said.

For his part, Marquez explained he was reportedly just following the order of Mayor-on-leave Tomas Osmeña that all urban poor and vendors-related matters should be coursed through his office before being acted upon by SPEED.

Rama said that instead of harboring rivalry, Mercado and Marquez should instead coordinate with each other and with the “Team Sugbo” headed by Dennis Jabonero, considering that they all share the same task- that is to clear the sidewalks and city streets of any obstacle.

Rama had admitted he is adopting Osmeña’s policy to allow vendors to continue peddling their goods sidewalks unless they would be complained of.

Among the complaints reaching City Hall is the inability of street vendors to restrain themselves from occupying big spaces of the sidewalks or streets, such that they already impede pedestrian traffic. — Rene U. Borromeo/JMO (THE FREEMAN)