THE whole stretch of Osmeña Boulevard and Colon Street is now totally free from sidewalk vendors after the Cebu City Prevention, Restoration, Order, Beautification and Enforcement (Probe) team had relocated them at Tabo sa Banay in Barangay Ermita on Saturday, September 28, 2019.
About 380 sidewalk vendors were able to avail the relocation program of the City with 250 of them now at the Tabo sa Banay while the rest will be relocated at the Senior Citizen’s Park at the back of City Hall.
These vendors are those from Colon St. and Osmeña Blvd. that were earlier cleared by Probe, but returned after complying the requirements set by the City.
Probe chief Raquel Arce said they have to totally clear the sidewalks as the 60-day deadline of the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) is set to end on Monday, Sept. 30.
During his last State of the Nation Address (Sona), President Rodrigo Duterte directed all local chief executives to reclaim all the public roads from obstructions.
Even before the President’s directive was made, the Cebu City Government had started conducting clearing operations in M. L. Quezon Blvd. last July 25.
On July 29, Probe had cleared the downtown roads from Osmeña Blvd. corner Colon St. to Sanciangko St.
Weeks after the clearing operations, some of the sidewalk vendors were able to return to their posts following regulations imposed by the City Government.
As the City already found a relocation site for the sidewalk vendors who were able to comply with their requirements, there is no reason for them to stay on the sidewalks of Colon and Osmeña Blvd., said Arce.
Despite the offered relocation sites, Arce said there are still vendors who chose to stay on their old vending area and she is only giving them until 12 noon today, Sunday, Sept. 29, to approach her office and avail of the relocation program or else, Probe will be forced to remove and stop them from vending.
Arce explained they have to totally clear the city’s sidewalks in preparation for the inspection of the DILG.
Arce said they decided to transfer the affected vendors to Tabo sa Banay as it is the most feasible area where they can be relocated.
At the relocation site, the vendors are allowed to sell their products from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. to give way for the stalls and carts selling food at nighttime.
Arce said if the vendors wish to continue vending beyond 6 p.m., they should transfer to the area in front of Chester Enterprises Inc. as lesser pedestrians are expected to pass there at that time.
Helen Panugaling, a vendor doing business at the Osmeña Blvd. for 23 years, expressed her disappointment and fear now that she is being relocated.
She fears that she might lose her regular customers once she is relocated.
But even with their situation, Panugaling and her fellow vendors are willing to cooperate and follow all the regulations set by the City, though she is still hoping they can return to their original area.
As of now, the City continues to look for areas where other affected vendors will be relocated.
Aside from Osmeña Blvd. and Colon St., other sidewalks that were already cleared are N. Bacalso Ave., Kaohsiong Street, Lapu-Lapu Street, A. Soriano St., and Sergio Osmeña Street in North Reclamation Area.(JJL)