MMDA chief: Burn stalls of illegal vendors

MANILA, Philippines -  Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) Chairman Danilo Lim ordered a barangay chairperson in Quezon City to burn all the stalls of illegal vendors in Balintawak after yesterday’s clearing operation.

Lim, who led the operation himself, told Barangay Balingasa captain Ma. Teresa Montalbo he does not want to see vendors’ stalls blocking the driveway at the Balintawak market again and causing a traffic jam on EDSA.

He said once the stalls have been dismantled, they should be burned. “Alangan naman babalik kami dito araw-araw para gawin ang (Do you expect us to return here every day just for) clearing operations,” Lim said.

The MMDA is turning over the responsibility of maintaining the cleanliness of Balintawak market to the barangay officials by having Montalbo sign an agreement with the agency, Lim said.

Montalbo said she has been coordinating with the MMDA for the clearing operations, but the vendors keep coming back to their stalls despite repeated warnings from the local government. 

Lim said yesterday is the last time the MMDA will clear Balintawak market and if the vendors return, he will be compelled to penalize the barangay officials for being remiss in their duties.

 In April this year, the MMDA filed administrative charges against seven barangay chairpersons in Quezon City for failing to maintain order in areas cleared by the MMDA. 

MMDA general manager Tim Orbos initiated the clearing operations in Balintawak following the success of the clearing operations in Baclaran before Lim was appointed as the chairman of the agency. 

Orbos has religiously cleared the market and filed charges against barangay officials before the Office of the Ombudsman. 

The clearing operation in Balintawak is Lim’s first move in his bid to resolve the perennial traffic problem in the metropolis, more than a month after he was appointed chairman of the MMDA.