ILOILO City – This city’s sidewalks will be cleared of vendors. This is part of President Rodrigo Duterte’s order for local government units to reclaim public spaces being used for private ends, according to Mayor Jerry Treñas who admitted being reluctant to do so.
“But we have no choice. We can’t do anything about this. We were given 60 days to do the clearing,” said Treñas.
Today Treñas is meeting the vendors.
“I hope the sidewalk vendors will understand. We have to clear the sidewalks of obstructions, too, not just the streets,” said Treñas.
The city’s chief executive said he is looking for areas where to relocate the displaced sidewalk vendors.
One is the Cacho property (old building of Panay Electric Co.) on JM Basa Street, said Treñas, and the other is above the International Hotel on Aldeguer Street, all in the City Proper.
“If we cannot finish the clearing in a month, say goodbye to me. I will be suspended,” said Treñas.
The President issued the order on the last week of July.
Treñas stressed he had always supported the poor, including sidewalk vendors.
“Nine years ako nga mayor waay gid ako nagtandog sa mga sidewalk vendors because naluoy ako sa ila palangabuhian,” said Treñas.
Prior to serving as the city’s congressman from 2010 to 2019, Treñas was this city’s mayor from 2001 to 2010.
Treñas said he is also planning to make some arrangements in behalf of the vendors such as allowing them to do business on the sidewalks after 6 p.m.
“I will face the President and tell him, ‘Sir pagbigyan naton sila maski gab-i na lang. Ang akon balatyagaon ara gid sa mga pigado,’” he said.
ROADS ‘70%’ CLEARED – PSTMO
With one month left before the end of the 60-day ultimatum, “60 to 70 percent” of major streets in this southern city have already been cleared, according to the city government’s Public Safety and Transportation Management Office (PSTMO).
“Wala na kita makita dalagko nga mga obstructions,” said PSTMO head Jeck Conlu.
But he admitted some of the demolished structures have returned.
“We will not stop. We will continue clearing roads,” Conlu said.
Secondary and barangays roads need to be cleared, too, he added.
Meanwhile, in the campaign against illegal parking on streets, Conlu said his personnel’s apprehension already reached a thousand.
PSTMO and the Task Force on Anti-Squatting and Illegal Structures are banking on the cooperation of barangays in the road clearing./PN
