|
Wednesday, July 19, 2006
Nalzaro: Osmeña’s political will
By Bobby Nalzaro
SIDEWALK vending is a perennial problem in urban areas. Ambulant vendors display their wares on sidewalks without considering whether or not they inconvenience pedestrians. As a result, people are forced to use the side of the street making them vulnerable to traffic accidents.
Sidewalk vendors are also considered eyesores, especially for foreigners. And they are found everywhere. They are therefore among the headaches of local chief executives, especially in key cities like Cebu.
Recently, Cebu City Mayor Tomas Osmeña expressed his determination to clean the city's sidewalks of ambulant vendors. He gave an ultimatum to them or their stalls will be demolished.
There have been attempts by previous administrations to drive away ambulant vendors from the sidewalks, including those that displayed their wares in the middle of M.C. Briones St. near the Carbon market. But those efforts failed for lack of political will.
A chief executive wanting to solve the problem on sidewalk vending should have political will. So since Osmeña is reportedly bent on solving this problem, then he should forget politics and deal with the problem fiercely.
Osmeña has to adopt an iron-fist policy. If his heart is weak or if he plays politics, then he should forget the campaign against sidewalk vending.
There are only two issues involved here: livelihood and politics. Osmena's campaign will affect a great number of people and their families. It will deprive them of their livelihood.
While sidewalk vending is illegal, it is a decent form of making a living. So before driving the vendors away, City Hall should relocate them or give them alternative livelihood.
I support the move of the mayor but he should strike a balance between giving the vendors the opportunity to continue earning a living and implementing the laws covering street vending (and in the process restoring order and cleanliness in our sidewalks).
On the other hand, Osmena's reelection bid is also at stake here. Leaders of various vendors' associations are known political supporters of the mayor. Now they have threatened to withdraw that support because of the mayor’s recent move.
These leaders are the very same people who made the vendors their milking cow by collecting from them daily arkabala with the promise that they will be protected from demolition. Osmeña, however, should not be worried of these threats because not all of these leaders are registered voters of Cebu. Besides, the mayor has no strong opponent in the coming elections.
If these leaders go against Osmeña, then to whom will they transfer their allegiance? Unless, of course, they ask one of them, like Ermita Barangay Captain Felicisimo “Imok” Rupenta, to run against Tomas.
Again, the drive against the vendors is test of Osmeña’s political will.
(bgnalzaro@gmanetwork.com / 0918-2198333)
For Bisaya stories from Cebu. Click here. (July 19, 2006 issue)
Write letter to the editor.Click here.
Join the Sun.Star message board.Click here. |
|
[return to top]
[home]
[network page]
|
LOCAL NEWS
BUSINESS
OPINION
SPORTS
LIFESTYLE
FEATURE
SUPERBALITA
WEEKEND
|
