‘No to chaotic vendors this Christmas’

Manila Mayor Lito Atienza said the city government would not allow vendors to ply their trade on the main streets of Divisoria and Binondo even during the Christmas Season.

Atienza said the plans of the city government were meant to ensure the smooth flow of traffic not only in the areas of Divisoria and Binondo but the whole city as well, when the Christmas Season comes.

"Vendors will not be allowed to vend on Ilaya and Juan Luna," Atienza said. "Instead, they will be given space on the side streets so as not to block the streets for motorists."

In the past years, vendors used to occupy all the major and minor roads in Divisoria and Binondo, which caused monstrous traffic jams.

Other roads leading to Divisoria and Binondo were also clogged as a result of the traffic jams in the two areas, considered trading centers of the city.

The mayor revealed some of his friends, including congressmen, have tried to convince him to allow vendors to sell their merchandise in different areas in the city, particularly in Divisoria and Binondo.

"I said no to all of them. We have to prioritize the concerns of the majority, that is, to see to it that traffic is smoothly flowing on the streets," he stressed. – Cecille Suerte Felipe