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Friday, September 27, 2002
Sto. Niño vendors scheduled to sign stalls deal today
By Charmaine Y. Rodriguez
IF LEADERS of the two Sto. Niño sidewalk vendors’ groups will sign the memorandum of agreement (MOA) today, 20 of the 44 occupants of the stalls along D. Jakosalem St. in Cebu City will have to vacate the structures within five days.
Two scheduled meetings to settle the issues on the distribution of stalls almost did not push through yesterday due to the apprehension of the members of the Sto. Niño Sidewalk Vendors’ Association (SNSVA) that they will be displaced.
However, a MOA was drafted yesterday, with the help of Cebu City Councilor Gerardo Carillo and Mayor Tomas Osmeña’s consultants Gerry Marquez and Maria Pino.
Conditions
Among the conditions set in the draft MOA is that the 20 stalls will be given to members of SNSVA within five days.
Although they will not be required to pay any rent for the stalls, they were asked to reimburse the 20 vendors of expenses for the electrical installation and the display racks installed.
Since Basilica United Vendors and Photographers’ Association (BUVPA) president Ernesto Albaran failed to attend yesterday’s meeting, the signing of the MOA was reset for 11 a.m. today.
However, Marquez said Albaran, who was not feeling well yesterday, already agreed to the conditions set in the agreement.
Although the City Government is not party to the agreement, Marquez said they will have to ensure that those who will vacate their stalls will not “overcharge” the new occupants.
SNSVA president Basan Amora, though, complained that they should not be forced to reimburse anything, especially since they have not been earning much for the past few days.
Pino assured Amora that the new occupants will have the choice not to pay for anything if they do not want the power supply or the racks.
Members of SNSVA failed to show up during the 9 a.m. meeting yesterday but they arrived at City Hall at 4:30 p.m. for the scheduled MOA signing.
They opposed, though, the condition that no makeshift stalls will be put up along the open space near the concrete stalls.
Donation
Carillo agreed to remove the said provision but reminded the group that they will face the risk of another demolition if they defy the City’s orders.
The vendors needed to reach an agreement before the City Council’s regular session on Wednesday. The council is set to discuss the proposal of private contractor Young Builders Corp. to donate the stalls, which were constructed without permits, to the City.
Marquez confirmed yesterday that BUVPA members will seek a temporary restraining order from the court if the City Council decides to have the structures demolished.
However, Marquez said even if the structures will be torn down, the vendors could be accommodated in the area if the local legislative body will declare it a vending site.
During last Wednesday’s dialogue, the City Government identified that there are only 67 legitimate members of the two groups since some of the stall holders are either relatives or “dummies”.
But Marquez revealed that a socio-economic survey on the street traders revealed that only about 50 of them will qualify. |
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