Recto, Rizal Avenue vendors picket City Hall

Vendors along Rizal and Recto Avenues gathered at the Manila City Hall yesterday to protest their eviction from its sidewalks and to demand an end to their "oppression."

The group, which used a small makeshift stage and a megaphone to air their sentiments at the back gate of the City Hall, converged at about 11 a.m. and dispersed peacefully late in the afternoon. The group was backed up by some members of militant groups.

The vendors said Manila Mayor Lito Atienza deprived them of their only source of living in the implementation of the city’s "Zero Vendor Campaign." Former Manila Mayor Mel Lopez took the stage for a brief moment to take his turn in criticizing the mayor and sympathized with the vendors.

Throughout the rally, riot policemen were on standby should the peace situation deteriorate.

But after a dialogue with Atienza, the vendors agreed to and accepted the mayor’s "organized vending program."

"Why should they accuse me of trying to eradicate them when in fact I am the first mayor to make a program for them," Atienza later told reporters.

Atienza said that only certain areas in the city were declared a no-vendor zone while other sidewalks are still available for the vendors provided they register and comply with space restrictions.

"What we are doing here is remove anarchy. We cannot use poverty as a justification for anarchy," the mayor said.

Atienza said he appreciates the economic boom potential of vending as well-developed territories like Hong Kong began with vending until its administrators organized them. – Jose Aravilla