Government to remove vendors from EDSA

MANILA, Philippines - Expect ambulant vendors and beggars to disappear from EDSA starting Nov. 1 as the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA), the Highway Patrol Group (HPG) and concerned local government units join forces to remove them in a bid to clear the Metro’s main highway for the Christmas season.

“Effective Nov. 1, we will be strictly implementing a ‘no ambulant vendor’ policy along EDSA. We will confiscate their goods. This will include carolers and mendicants,” Secretary to the Cabinet Jose Rene Almendras told reporters.

He also said government personnel will also start clearing alternate routes or “mabuhay” lanes of obstructions. He said illegal parked vehicles found on these routes between 6 a.m. and 9 p.m. from Nov. 1 to Jan. 2 will be impounded.

Almendras said HPG officers will help manage traffic on EDSA until June 30, 2016 “to prevent a carmageddon in December.”