Saturday, January 12, 2008 Baclaran cleared of sidewalk vendors
THE Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) has made good its promise to rid the area around the Light Rail Transit (LRT) station in Baclaran of illegal sidewalk vendors and other traffic obstructions Friday morning.
About 1,000 personnel of the MMDA Sidewalk Clearing Operations Group led by Roberto Esquivel backed up by Pasay City policemen equipped with heavy equipment demolished at least 300 illegally guilt shanties and stalls located in Barangay 145, Sto. Nino, Pasay City.
Even the pleas of barangay chairman Julian Tongo did not move the MMDA as agency personnel tore away the stalls while vendors look glumly offering no resistance unlike in the past when violent clashes always took place whenever similar operation are carried out.
Several vendors complained they were not informed of the impending violation and said they were at a loss as to where they can find a place to peddle their wares.
But MMDA Chairman Bayani Fernando said the affected vendors said they are not entitled to a relocation site since they are illegal in the first place
Another vendor said they did not offer any resistance since it would be useless anyway as the MMDA appeared intent on ridding the area this time of illegal structures.
Esquivel expressed elation that there were no untoward incidents that took place during the clearing operations unlike in the past.
Baclaran has been a scene of violent confrontation between the MMDA and sidewalk vendors in the past. In 2004, an MMDA employee was stabbed and another was shot by unidentified men last year.
Unidentified men also razed MMDA mobile office in 2005.
The MMDA also demolished an outpost of Pasay Police Community Precinct 6 that encroached on the sidewalk in violation of existing rules prohibiting any structures on the sidewalk, Esquivel said.
LRT administrator Mel Robles has formally sought the MMDA's assistance in ridding the area near the LRT station of obstruction fearing a repeat of the chaos that engulfed the area and the response of firefighters during last week's massive fire that razed the Galleria Baclaran Shopping Mall causing about P90 million in damages.
Fernando said a similar incident could cause enormous destruction especially if an LRT train would be trapped as well as massive traffic jam in the metropolis since the LRT is used by about 600,000 commuters daily.
He also reiterated his warning that local executives especially barangay leaders should do their share to keep squatters and illegal vendors off the streets or face charges before the Office of Ombudsman. (AH/Sunnex)
