Tondo barangay hall demolished for blocking sidewalk

The Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) on Wednesday demolished a barangay hall in Tondo, Manila that had encroached on the sidewalk.

Despite appeals from Barangay 235 officials, the MMDA still tore down the structure that was blocking the sidewalk on Villaruela Street.

MMDA Chair Danny Lim said that officials in the barangay headed by Minna Galang had repeatedly been told to transfer the structure although they ignored the warning.

According to Lim, he has asked the Department of the Interior and Local Government to help them go after uncooperative barangay officials as the MMDA intensifies its clearing operations.

As for vendors on Juan Luna Street in Divisoria, they will be allowed to do business from 5 p.m. to 6 a.m. as long as they do not block the street, the MMDA said.

“If you don’t follow our agreement and you also encroach [on] the streets, we will seize your goods,” Lim warned.

The MMDA said it would meet with the Manila City government to discuss the relocation of vendors in Divisoria, considered one of traffic chokepoints in the metropolis. —Dexter Cabalza