Muslim vendors, community back clearing of Manila streets

Divisoria, the shopping haven of the budget-conscious in Manila, is unrecognizable without the usual horde of vendors clogging its roads. The photo on the left was taken a few days before Christmas in 2018. The one on the right was taken on Wednesday, July 3, 2019. (Photo by RICHARD A. REYES / Philippine Daily Inquirer)

MANILA, Philippines — The Muslim community supports the clearing operations being conducted by Mayor Isko Moreno around the city of Manila, Datu Basher Alonto, chairman of the Metro Manila Muslim Community for Justice and Peace, said Sunday.

Alonto said that vendors should understand the law and that the public should start recognizing it instead of abusing it.

“Para sakin ang mga tao, dapat matuto ng batas. Hindi naman talaga kailangan magtinda ang tao sa kalsada. Ginawa ang kalsada para sa sasakyan, para sa tao,” Alonto said during the Balitaan sa Maynila media forum.

 “Ito na rin ang umpisa ng bawat Pilipino ay hindi kailangan maging abusado. Sinasabi ko sa kanila ay intindihin yung batas. Hindi tayo ang may hawak ng batas porke’t naghahanap buhay tayo,” he added.

The statement of Alonto stemmed after he said that some of the Muslim members around Quiapo area were affected by the clearing operations of the Moreno administration.

Since he assumed office, Moreno had ordered several roads around Manila to be cleared of illegal vendors in his bid to bring back the streets to the public.

According to Alonto, the whole Muslim community is in support with the policies of the Moreno administration as it would help boost the tourism in the country’s capltal.

“Suportado kami sa kanya dahil nakikita naman natin na ito rin yung mga pangarap ng taga Maynila, kasi ang Maynila yung pinaka sentro ng bansa,” he said.

“Kapag ang mga investor natin, ‘yung mga turista natin, nakikita na hindi maayos ang Maynila, nakikita nila na ang buong bansa ay hindi maayos. So napaka ganda ‘yung ginagawa niya sa ngayon,” Alonto added. /je