Vendor’s plea: Let poor trade in Manila North Cemetery

SELLING IN FEAR. “Aling Mila” on Wednesday, October 30, 2019, appeals to Manila City Mayor Isko Moreno to let poor people like her sell inside the Manila North Cemetery. The local government has firmly ordered the ban on vendors inside one of Metro Manila’s most-crowded burial grounds. INQUIRER.net/Pathricia Ann V. Roxas

MANILA, Philippines — Over the past 15 years, Aling Mila looked forward to All Saints’ Day and All Souls Day with a flash of hope for extra income from selling flowers, candles, and snacks. This year, that hope looked dim.

The Manila City government has firmly ordered the ban on vendors inside one of Metro Manila’s most-crowded burial grounds.

Aling Mila, like before, has already loaned a small capital and bought flowers, candles, candies, chips, biscuits, and powdered beverages to trade from today, October 30, until the weekend. But she is feeling scared.

She said she had no choice but to appeal to Manila Mayor Francisco “Isko Moreno” Domagoso.

“Ang hinihiling ng mga vendor kay mayor, sana naman ‘wag ganyan kahigpit kasi kawawa ‘yung mga mahihirap (We appeal to the mayor to ease the rules because the poor will suffer),” Aling Mila, 65, told INQUIRER.net as she sits at a covert corner of the 54-hectare public cemetery on Wednesday. She requested that her real name be concealed for fear of being arrested.

During the interview, Aling Mila was sitting beside a few bouquets of Malaysian mums, which according to her, she managed to buy from the P4,700 she loaned at a high 10 percent interest.

In the past days, the Manila government evicted vendors and illegal settlers inside the Manila North Cemetery in time for All Saints’ Day and All Souls Day on Friday and Saturday, respectively.

READ: Illegal settlers out of Manila North Cemetery

ALL SYSTEMS GO. Metal railings are in place at the Manila North Cemetery on Wednesday, October 30, 2019, as authorities anticipate the influx of visitors to one of Metro Manila’s most-crowded burial grounds on November 1 and 2. INQUIRER.net/Pathricia Ann V. Roxas

Manila North Cemetery chief Roselle Castañeda said they would only allow vendors of flowers and candles in front of the main gate of the cemetery.

Although unsure of what would happen next, Suarez said she would stay in her small area for now, until she earns some for their needs.

“Sa ngayon po wala pa akong masabing kinita ko kasi wala pa kaming benta. Nakapagpabili lang ako ng P50 na bigas, wala pa kaming ulam,” she said.

 (I have yet to earn anything. I managed to buy a kilo of rice worth P50 but this is not enough.)

Police Lieutenant Noel Villamor, chief of operations of Sta. Cruz Manila Station 3, reiterated that no vendors are allowed inside the public cemetery.

“Bawal po lahat ng uri ng paninda. Kukumipiskahin po namin ang paninda kung ipilit pumasok (All kinds of merchandise are not allowed inside. We will confiscate the items if vendors insist),” Villamor told INQUIRER.net in an interview.

For October 30, a total of 192 personnel are assigned in the Manila North Cemetery while 540 will be dispatched to ensure peace and order in the area on November 1 and 2, according to Villamor. /kga