Friday, August 03, 2007 Tomas orders dismantling of Sto. Niño vendors stalls
CEBU City Mayor Tomas Osmeña yesterday ordered the immediate demolition of concrete vendors’ stalls at the back of the Basilica del Sto. Niño.
Osmeña learned that some of the vendors occupying the stalls along D. Jakosalem St. have long been using their units as stockroom for their wares.
As a compromise with the vendors whose stalls along Osmeña Blvd. were demolished, the City Government allowed them to occupy the concrete stalls that stand on a sidewalk along Jakosalem St.
Young Builders constructed the stalls in 2001 and would have donated them to the City Government, but Osmeña did not accept them.
Vendors selling images of the Sto. Niño and other religious items are occupying the stalls for free.
In his news conference yesterday, Osmeña said he will not even bother to give the vendors due notice, because they already know they are not supposed to sell along Osmeña Blvd.
“Just demolish the stalls, the whole thing including the roof because it’s not supposed to be a stockroom,” the mayor told Gerry Marquez, his urban poor consultant.
He said the stalls should not be there in the first place because sidewalks “are beyond the commerce of men.”
“We don’t have to give them notice. What notice? They already know what they’re supposed to do,” Osmeña continued.
Sun.Star Cebu checked the stalls yesterday afternoon and at least 10 stalls were padlocked. The vendors said its owners opted not to sell yesterday.
Three of the stalls that were closed are reportedly occupied by Sto. Niño Sidewalk Vendors’ Association president Basan Amora. He allegedly used these stalls as storage room.
Amora and other vendors reportedly kept the concrete stalls, but they still sell in makeshift stalls at the corner of Osmeña Blvd. and Jakosalem St. He could not be reached for comment yesterday. (LCR)
