Parañaque designates flea market areas

MANILA, Philippines - The Parañaque City council has approved an ordinance allowing vendors to use certain streets in Baclaran as flea markets from Aug. 15 to Jan. 3 next year.

Under the ordinance, stall owners will pay the city government P3,000 for every stall every month. Among the designated areas are the sidewalks of Opena, Bayanihan, GG Cruz, Lt. Garcia and Redemptorist Road.

The ordinance, however, said vendors must not impede pedestrians and vehicles passing through the area.

Mayor Edwin Olivarez has created a market committee to oversee the smooth implementation of the ordinance.

Last month, the mayor ordered a crackdown on illegal vendors and illegal jeepney terminals that have been causing traffic jams, particularly along Roxas Boulevard, during the rush hours.

The newly approved ordinance is expected to help in the anti-crime drive since the city government now has a list of legitimate vendors. Baclaran has been identified as one of the crime-prone areas in the National Capital Region.