PROBE Team “clears” N. Bacalso of obstructions

CEBU, Philippines — Cebu City’s Prevention Restoration Order Beautification Enhancement (PROBE) Team has already cleared 88 structures owned by vendors along N. Bacalso Avenue to comply with the national memorandum to reclaim public roads from private use.

Apart from the order of the Department of the Interior and Local Government, PROBE head Raquel Arce said the city government received several complaints on the proliferation of ambulant vendors who reportedly obstructed the sidewalks.

“Dili ako ang makasulti kon makabalik g’yud ni sila kay nakadawat man ta og complaint hasta ang Office of the Mayor. Narrow man pud ang sidewalk maong atong gi-clear gyud,” she said.

In July, DILG Memorandum Circular 2019-121 gave all local government units 60 calendar days to reclaim public roads from private use to ease traffic, as mandated by President Rodrigo Duterte.

Arce said her office will assist the vendors in looking for other areas where they can be relocated. The clearing of the structures started last September 3.

Arce said these vendors, who sell mostly food, accessories, and gadgets, among others, used to sell near the South Bus Terminal. She added that these vendors are not part of the regulated vendors who are identified by the city government.

For now, she said she imposed zero growth of vendors in the city, which means that there will be no additional vendors that will be registered and qualified to do business in the city’s sidewalks and streets.

“Nagbutang g’yud ta og tao didto para dili makabalik kay ang PROBE ra man ilang bantayan maong mag-monitor ta,” Arce said.

She said these vendors will be allowed to do business again but not in main thoroughfares like N. Bacalso Avenue to prevent obstruction of traffic.

After N. Bacalso Avenue, Arce said her office will clear V. Rama Avenue which will soon be declared as discipline zone wherein the area will be free from graffiti, illegal vendors, and mendicants, among others.

Arce said PROBE has already cleared several streets since the start of the administration of Mayor Edgardo Labella such as Colon Street, Osmeña Boulevard, Magallanes Street, Manalili Street, ML Quezon Boulevard, and B. Rodriguez Street, among others. (FREEMAN)