Brion backs zero vendor policy

Manila Mayor Alfredo Lim’s “zero vending policy” got a boost yesterday as Labor Secretary Arturo Brion expressed his support to the local government’s efforts to relocate the illegal vendors from the city’s major thoroughfares to safer common markets.

Brion relayed this information when Lim graced the blessing of the Department of Labor and Employment-National Capital Region (DOLE-NCR) building.

“In your ongoing campaign to clean our city streets and put our vendors in a much safer place, the DOLE is behind you. We will help you,” Brion said.

The city government has been conducting a clean up and clearing operation along the major roads. They started with the Roxas Boulevard, from Del Pan Bridge until it reached the Cultural Complex of the Philippines (CCP).

To date, the clean-up team is working in Quiapo and Divisoria.

The Labor Secretary also suggested providing income augmentation program to the informal sector or those who are doing business in the sidestreets of Manila.

“From our previous focus on labor relations, now our target is social protection. We will help Mayor Lim improve the lot of our poor people,” the labor chief said. – Evelyn Macairan