THE ANCILLARY Services Unit will seek approval from Mayor Sebastian Duterte to allow vendors to sell on both sides of the sidewalks in the city now that the holiday season is fast approaching.
ASU head Paul Bermejo said it is achievable recalling that sidewalk vendors were allowed to vend on both sides in the previous administration of former city mayor Sara Duterte.
“Sa panahon ni Mayor Inday, naandan naman gyud na nila nga mo request sila nga magdouble side, so karon ako sang meetingon ang atong mga vendors para ma discuss kung unsa ang size ug pila sila kabouk ana nga area,” Bermejo said.
The ASU head told TIMES that the unit has to iron out the list of the vendors so as to prevent conflict in their placement as some stalls in a single area are usually occupied by a single family, prohibiting other vendors from mixing up with them.
“Ang uban ana sila- sila lang unya dili na sila magpasulod unya og nay mosulod lain nga atong [ibutang] dira kay maghangyo nga pasudlon pud sila, dili man pud sila mosugot, so kung ingana nga style, basin posible dili na na sya itugot,” Bermejo said.
The unit is eyeing these vendors that are currently selling double sides in areas including San Pedro Street, Ilustre Street, and Uyanguren Street.
Meanwhile, demolition team leaders are deployed to constantly check pedestrian overpasses and prohibit Maranao vendors from selling footwear. However, the unit chief said they can still sell shoes at San Pedro St., Bolton Street, and City Hall Drive.
He revealed that these items are provided by the City Social Development Office (CSWDO) as their livelihood assistance, hence confiscating such items is discouraged.
“Gina-discourage nako sila nga panguhaon ang items kay kung makuha namo ang items dili na sila moadto sa opisina aron ila pod i-claim, ginapasagdaan nalang pud nila,” Bermejo said.
Bermejo stressed that the unit is employing various strategies to regulate violators in overpasses, especially in Matina Crossing overpass, as some vendors tend to remove their display when they observe a demolition team on sight, and come back if the team has left.
The chief said they deployed additional personnel to monitor restricted areas. “Gina instructionan nato atong team leader nga droppan og tao kay aron mamadlong kay dili man nato ma-atol tanan og atong gwardyahan tanan,” he added.
He cited as an example the case in Bangkerohan Public Market where students from the University of Immaculate Concepcion cannot use the sidewalks due to motorcycles and vendors occupying the sidewalks.
