100 'illegal' sidewalk structures demolished
CEBU, Philippines — Cebu City’s demolition team tore down at least 100 illegal structures built on the sidewalks of Escaño Street in Barangay Ermita yesterday morning.
Cebu City Prevention, Restoration, Order, Beautification, Enhancement (Probe) team demolished stalls lining up on the sidewalks.
The complaints of obstruction and poor sanitation from the establishment and building owners prompted the city government to demolish the structures.
Authorities said illegal structures are also forcing pedestrians to walk on the street, endangering their lives.
Probe team head Raquel Arce said the stall owners, including Muslim traders and fish and vegetable vendors, were given the 10-day clearing notice.
Probe was supposed to implement the order on July 30, the due date, but the vendors asked Mayor Tomas Osmeña for a seven-day extension.
“Gi-grant ni mayor ang ilang request kay ang stand man gyud sa mayor naa sya’y tolerance with regard to vendors pero the moment nga mo-complain na ang establishment owners mo-act gyod siya sa complain. Mao na ang rason nga karon pata naka clear sa area,” she said.
During the demolition, the affected vendors did not resist, while some of them even volunteered to dismantle their stalls.
“Ni-cooperate gyod sila. Wala gyod ta’y na dakpan nga mga tinda ug wala gyod sila naninda. Ang atong gibuhat, nang limpyo ta sa area didto ug gihipos ra nato ang mga basura ug uban nga mga sagbot as part of the clearing order,” Arce said.
The 70-year-old fish vendor, Irene Secuya, said they will ask the mayor to allow them to sell again in the morning.
“Wala man gikuha ang among mga tinda pero giabisohan rami nga di na maninda diri dapita. Pero kun maluoy sila namo maninda gihapon mi diri kay wala man mi lain panginabuhi,” she said.
According to Arce, vendors are still allowed to sell at night time and at dawn from 6 p.m. to 6 a.m.
Those caught selling beyond the allowed time will have their merchandise confiscated, said Arce. —Carl James T. Cabarles, USJ-R Intern/KBQ (FREEMAN)
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