Vendors continue to sell their goods despite a ban on peddling along the Traslacion route. Neil Arwin Mercado/INQUIRER.net
MANILA, Philippines — Several vendors were still able to sell their goods along the route of Traslacion on Thursday despite the policy prohibiting them from doing so.
“Rogelio,” together with his wife and child, was selling handkerchiefs with the Black Nazarene’s image printed on them.
Despite being informed about the policy, Rogelio said that the city government could not stop them from trying to make ends meet.
“Maraming gustong maghanapbuhay dito sa Manila. Hindi naman mapipigilan ‘yung mga taong gustong maghanapbuhay katulad ko,” Rogelio told INQUIRER.net.
(Many people want to make a living here in Manila. They cannot stop those who want to make a living like me.)
“Kung tutuusin, bawal talaga. Pero nandito na e, taon-taon ginagawa namin ito,” he added.
(It really isn’t allowed. But here we are, this happens every year.)
Rogelio was only one of the many vendors who sold goods on the day of the religious event.
Segment Charlie Commander Police Major Ramon Gatdula Marino said that the police force was trying its best to implement the policy.
“Umiikot pa yung ating ibang kasamahan, bagamat kulang kami sa dami ng mga dumalo na mga deboto. Sisikapin pa rin namin na sila ay makalayo sa area na daraanan ng daloy ng Poong Nazareno,” Marino told INQUIRER.net.
(Our fellow police officers are still making rounds, although we are really short in number compared to the number of devotees. We are doing our best to have them away from the procession’s route.)
The local government of Manila earlier announced that no vendors will be allowed to sell their goods in key areas including the Traslacion route during the celebration of the Feast of the Black Nazarene.