Clearing sidewalks is a right step

The other day, we saw a heart-rending spectacle occurring in the heart of our city. Within the periphery of the historic Fort San Pedro, at the Plaza Independencia of Cebu City, a clash struggle of social connotation took place. While the harangue was loud, the conflict was actually one sided. Women, bowed by the weight of their own helplessness could only cry. Others, letting go of their anger, unleashed a barrage of unprintable statements. Acrid tongues but nothing more. The indignant many spoke bitterly of the trampling of their alleged rights as if they were the epitome of what was just while the philosophical among them sought refuge in the thought that karma would visit those who caused them their pains.
I saw, on television, the demolition of the stalls-cum-homes of many vendors. The sight on the boob tube, although understandably less emotional than when personally seen, was highlighted by the image of one lady who talked with the television crewmen who covered the touching incident. While trying to hold back her tears, she said that for thirteen years, vending from that spot of the earth was their livelihood. From their earnings, her family also secured the education of their children. 
She was carried by her hatred that her guard irreversibly lowered. Her pronouncements showed that her footing was legally untenable. Desiring to justify their squatting on a public domain, she had to admit that they had been staying there for 13 long years. For such an extended period of time, she, like the others in his group, at the pretext of earning a living, usurped a public place. And just because she had to have a livelihood on the sidewalk, the greater mass had to be deprived of its public use. The lady is not alone. She represents a huge block of illegal settlers. If one walks around the city, he is likely to find out that many streets have been taken over by squatters many of whom claim to be vendors who have no other place to go. Somewhere in barangay Ermita, for instance, there is a public road which is just about one half its original width because on the other half are structures of all kinds and sizes.  When one walks along what is known as Holy Name Street in Mabolo, there is a big chance that he can be run over by vehicles precisely because, with the sidewalks usurped by settlers, he has to walk on the center of that narrowed street. 
To top it all, the city has completely lost a road in front of the sports complex of Barangay Mabolo. I should know because I happen to own a very small piece of land nearby. Under my neighbors houses there, one can find a cemented pavement to evidence that the city must, at not so distant past, have spent a huge amount of money to make it a concrete road. Yet, such a street has vanished from our map. 
My point here is the obvious lack of government planning. Genuine public welfare is, in all probability, not factored in. Was it not possible that the city leadership allowed the lady vendor near Fort San Pedro to start selling there 13 years ago for political considerations, in much the same way that our leaders might have tolerated the men and women who are occupying that road lot in Mabolo in exchange for political support? There can be no other conclusion. 
It is about time that our leaders take stock of what serves the greater mass of our public. Sure, the demolition of the structures near Fort San Pedro appears to be in the right direction. Few vendors get hurt to give to the public what is theirs, in the first place. Still, the evidence of good governance can very well be enhanced if the same kind of political is exercised in clearing the other streets I have named above. Let’s keep our fingers crossed.