MMDA to launch major drive vs illegal vendors in Baclaran

The Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) is set to launch a major sidewalk clearing operation in Parañaque’s Baclaran area, which has given the agency numerous headaches in the past.

The agency gave up the drive last year due to pressures from several mayors and heated fights with vendor groups, but this time, they will be operating with the Southern Police District (SPD) and city government officials.

MMDA General Manager Robert Nacianceno said Parañaque City Mayor Florencio Bernabe has given the go-signal for a massive clearing activity.

"This will be a massive one now that we have the support of the police and local officials. We really need to do this as part our preparation for the re-launching of OBR (Organized Bus Route) program," Nacianceno said.

He explained that the MMDA will not be able to open up a bus terminal in the area if thousands of illegal vendors are in the way.

Illegal vendors are also being blamed for traffic problems since they occupy sidestreets which are supposed to be for pedestrians.

Nacianceno said implementation of the OBR will begin next week following the delay it suffered arising from vendor issues in Baclaran.

The MMDA hopes that the support of the local government of Parañaque, barangay officials and the police will result in the peaceful dispersal of vendors, unlike the previous operations that resulted in violent clashes.

"We hope that the vendors will no longer fight back. We don’t want bloodshed again," Nacianceno said, noting that the MMDA will focus its clearing operation along the stretch of Roxas Boulevard Service Road, from MIAA Road to EDSA, which had been cleared and widened two years ago to serve as an OBR terminal.

Also in the list of areas to be cleared is the vendor-infested stretch of Redemptorist Road, from Roxas Boulevard to the MRT Terminal in Taft Avenue.