Vendors to stage protest in Mendiola

MANILA, Philippines – A group of vendors, who were barred from selling their goods inside the Rizal Park, was on its way to Mendiola in Manila to stage a rally.

Manila Police District station 8 said the group is composed of 40 people who were on their way to Mendiola after staging a similar protest in front of the Department of Tourism office at Luneta Park earlier Monday.

Joel Meralpes, secretary of People’s Democratic Hawkers and Vendors Alliance or PEDHVA-Kadamay (PEDHVA-Kadamay) alleged in a statement that the government was taking away their livelihood in a bid to privatize the park to foreign traders.

The group claimed that 130 families are going to be affected in the park’s Zero-Vendors policy.

“Sa matuwid na daan ni Aquino, mga dayuhang negosyante lamang ang maaring magtinda sa mga lugar na pag-aari ng publiko na ngayon ay nais nang isapribado sa ilalim ng programang Public-Private Partnership,” Meralpes said.