Change yet to begin in Divisoria vendors

Change has yet to come to Divisoria, the most popular bargain shopping center in the City of Manila.

The assumption into power of President Duterte, known for instilling discipline among Davao City residents when he was mayor, has failed to daunt Divisoria vendors who continue to play a cat-and-mouse game with authorities.

“They really are hardheaded. I don’t think they were [scared] by [the new President]” said Che Borromeo, head of Task Force Manila Cleanup.

According to Borromeo, their clearing team has been going to the area every day, just to make sure vendors abide by the rules and do not block the roads, resulting in heavy traffic.

Under an agreement with the city government, vendors are allowed to occupy the sidewalks or up to a distance of one meter from the sidewalk. This is to ensure that the roads leading to Divisoria remain open to vehicular and foot traffic.

“They leave when we are there and stay on the side of the road but when we leave, when we turn our backs, many of them return to where they were before. Rarely do you have a vendor who complies,” Senior Supt. Marcelino Pedrozo, Task Force Divisoria commander, said.

Borromeo added that the ambulant vendors also leave behind garbage such as fish, fruits and other items which his 25-man team end up cleaning every time.

He said that his men usually collect around “three truckloads” of trash at the end of their clearing operations.

“We have asked the vendors not to litter, but they are stubborn,” Borromeo complained.

Asked what has been done to educate the vendors about cleanliness, for example, he said his men would time and again ask them to clean up after themselves, a plea often ignored.

Pedrozo said the city government has given the vendors occupying the middle of the streets until July 20 to permanently leave and move to an area where vending was not prohibited.

“We will see. They really need discipline. They were allowed to stay there so that they could continue working but they always end up abusing the leeway we give them,” he added.