CEBU, Philippines - Seven stalls illegally occupying along Legazpi Street are scheduled to be demolished by the clearing team of City Hall for obstructing the passage of pedestrians and the passing vehicles.
Raquel Arce, chief of the Prevention Restoration Order Beautification and Enhancement, said the demolition was long overdue.
She explained that she had to wait for the elections to pass to avoid being accused of political harassment since the area is located near the Sto. Niño barangay hall whose captain, Pancho Ramirez, is a supporter of the Bando Osmeña Pundok Kauswagan (BOPK).
“Dugay na namo nga giplano nga i-clear ang maong dapit sa Legazpi apan gi-hold lang namo kay basin og mapasanginlan ta nga nang-harass ilabi na nga ang kapitan diha alyado sa pikas partido (We have planned the demolition long ago but we deferred it to avoid being accused of harassment),†Arce said.
Tourist guides are reportedly complaining about the presence of the vendors in the area because aside from being an eyesore to the visitors it is also causing traffic.
Stall owners Margarita Pugoy, Sheelamay Toledo, Angelina Diano, Filomena Balaba, Lita Ugsa, Paterno Manilag, and Nerissa Balaba are hoping that the city government will give them a place to relocate.
“Moangkon g'yud mi nga nilapas na kami sa boundary nga gitugot nga pabaligyaan kay miabot na mi sa karsada. Wala mi mahimo kung madayon g'yud ang clearing operation next week. Dili man mi mosupak basta para lang sa beautification,†the vendors said.
Legaspi Street, a one-way road going to Colon Street, has enough space for four light vehicles to pass but it was narrowed by the barangay vehicles, including fire truck, parked beside the road. The other side is also used for pay parking — Rene U. Borromeo with reports from Marielle Shayne Palaubsanon and Steff Anuada, CNU Mass Com Interns/FPL (FREEMAN)