Sidewalk vendors in Cebu City are at risk of being removed once business establishments complain that they are obstructing pedestrians. (CDN FILE PHOTO)
Cebu City Mayor Tomas Osmeña said all members of Cebu City United Vendors Association (CCUVA) were blacklisted in his administration.
In a press conference yesterday, Osmeña said he received reports through the hotline that some business establishments were complaining about vendors occupying their sidewalks.
He, however, said he did not receive any formal complaint yet.
Osmeña said he already reorganized the Prevention, Restoration, Order, Beautification and Enhancement (PROBE) team headed by retired police officers to handle the matter.
“Ako dili ganahan mangita og sala pero kon moreklamo ang tag-iya sa tindahan, kaning vendors patay gyud ka (I don’t want to look for errors but if there are complaints from store owners, these vendors will be cleared). If the store owner complains, I’ll only give you 48 hours to vacate,” Osmeña said.
The mayor called the CCUVA “abusive” since it has been collecting millions of pesos from the different stall owners without remitting the money to the city government.
“They’ve been abusive for so long. They have been collecting money from vendors using the name of the city government,” he said.
Currently, CCUVA has around 7,000 members who are doing business along Colon Street, Carbon Public Market, Plaza Independencia, Cebu City Central School, Abellana National High School, Barangay Capitol, among others.
When sought for comment, Ermita Barangay Captain Felicisimo Rupinta, who is also CCUVA adviser, called the move as inhumane, but said that it is the prerogative of the mayor.
He said Osmeña should not deprive them of their source of income. As mayor of the city, Osmeña should at least understand their situation, Rupinta said.
“Igo lang mi ani sa pagsiyagit. Naa sad mi katungod sa pagsiyagit. Dapat tan-awon sad niya among kahimtang isip amahan sa syudad (What we can do is just shout. We have the right to shout. He should also assess our situation, he being the father of the city),” he said.
He said he could not understand the mayor’s decision since CCUVA was only doing business to earn a living. He said they were not obstructing any establishment.