Wednesday, September 12, 2007 11 stalls behind Sto. Niño padlocked
SOME 30 vendors from two vending sites in Cebu City failed to convince Mayor Tomas Osmeña to reconsider his move to keep them off the city’s streets.
Vendors from the flea market in front of the Capitol compound and those occupying concrete stalls at the back of the Basilica del Sto. Niño went to City Hall yesterday and appealed to the mayor for reconsideration.
But the mayor gave a stern “no,” saying he does not believe the vendors’ excuses.
Maria Pino, president of the Cebu City United Vendors Association (CCUVA), said some of the vendors selling fruits and vegetables at the tabo near Capitol during weekends are from the province, but some are also the city’s constituents.
“Sorry but I don’t believe that,” Osmeña told the vendors before going back inside his office.
Not enough time
Pino was also supposed to bring up to the mayor the concerns of the vendors at the basilica but the mayor already went back inside his office after hearing Pino’s explanation on the situation of the Capitol vendors.
Osmeña ordered the demolition of the Sto. Niño vendors’ concrete stalls after learning that these were being used only as storage rooms while their owners continue to sell on the sidewalk along Osmeña Blvd.
The vendors complained that they were not given enough time to comply with the notice of demolition, which was served to them last Friday.
Yesterday dawn, their concrete stalls were padlocked while the other makeshift stalls were opened by the demolition team from the Squatters Prevention Encroachment Elimination Division (Speed).
Some of the religious images were confiscated and brought to the Speed office.
In his news conference yesterday, the mayor said he will have the Speed personnel return the images but will require the vendors to pay a fine.
Capitol constituents
“We will not give any reconsideration anymore, otherwise no one will believe me when I implement something.... I’m doing this so there will be no more need for another demolition so the people will know that City Hall is serious in getting things done,” Osmeña said.
As for the vendors at the Capitol area, the mayor advised them to seek Gov. Gwen Garcia’s help instead since the vendors are from the province.
“No, they’re not Cebu City constituents. Of course, CCUVA will recruit anybody who will go to them. They should go to the Capitol, why me? I already have so many problems here and Capitol has a lot of spaces there,” the mayor added. (LCR)
