Saturday, November 10, 2007 Cops clear Angeles tourist area By Dante M. Fabian
ANGELES CITY - The city police has cleared the main tourism zone along Fields Avenue here of sidewalk and ambulant vendors.
Superintendent Joselito Imperial, Station 4 chief, said the clearing is in line with the cooperation of city police director Senior Supt. George Gaddi and Mayor Francis Blueboy Nepomueno in improving the tourism industry in the city.
Policemen, led by Senior Inspector Luisito M. Tan, Station 4 deputy chief, on Wednesday asked the vendors peddling their wares on the sidewalks and curbsides to move out.
The vendors, who cater to both entertainment workers and tourists along Fields Avenue, include those who sell fruits, snacks, cigarettes, clothes, belts, sunglasses, watches, and other wares.
Some of them come from Mindanao, they are peddling Viagra and Cialis to tourists.
In order to give the vendors an opportunity to keep their livelihood in the area, police transferred the more than 100 vendors to the basketball court along Real Street.
Tan said the vendors will temporarily be located at the basketball court pending the approval of concerned barangay and city officials.
According to Tan, there have been complaints that sidewalks are crowded by vendors and prevent easy passage of pedestrians.
He added that Gaddi is determined to in implement the clearing of the streets and to instill cleanliness, discipline and order in the tourism zone.
Gaddi ordered police to conduct regular patrols against vagrants, pickpockets, and holduppers in order to reduce security risks in the area.
Tan said that the ongoing cleanliness program is expected to work for the benefit of those who depend on the tourism industry in terms of livelihood.
He explained that a good peace and order would encourage more tourists to visit the city. "These will be for the good of workers and establishment owners, suppliers and the vendors.
A few days after he assumed post as police director, Gaddi ordered police officials to remove all obstructions to traffic along the city streets.
Upon Gaddi's instructions, the illegally-built stalls along Rizal and Jesus streets in the city proper were demolished.
The length of Jesus Street, from Rizal Street up to Henson Street, was reportedly leased to vendors at P7,000 for a 2.5 meter by 2 meter stall.
Sources told Sun.Star Pampanga that the street was leased by a Vietnamese named Chou.
