TACLOBAN CITY, Leyte
– Risking popularity, but considering the general consensus of the
public, City Mayor Alfredo “Bejo” Romualdez firmly said “no” to the
demand of the sidewalk vendors, to reconsider allowing them to vend in
the market-sidewalks from 6:00 p.m.- 6:00 a.m. daily.
The resolute local
chief executive faced members of the Koalisyon han Gudti nga
Magtirinda han Tacloban (KAGUMA), who staged a second picket at the
City Hall grounds on Monday morning (April 17) at around 10:00
o'clock.
Being straightforward,
he told the sidewalk vendors “diri ko igtutugot nga makabalik an
sidewalk vendors ha kalsada samtang nagpapabilin pa ako komo alcalde
hini nga ciudad. Hingyap ko magin malimpyo an ciudad ngan matuhay an
‘sectioning’ han mga tienda ha mercado. Labot pa, diri maupay kitaon
ini nga market building nga nagkakantidad hin 92 milyones pesos, nga
waray sulod.”
The sidewalk vendors
threatened the mayor of losing their votes come election time. Some
had made emotional remarks that the mayor did not care about their
economic plight. But mayor Bejo emphasized, “I could have allowed the
entry of shopping malls to our city, but I believe that giant stores
would only displace small scale merchants, hence my reluctance. I hope
the sidewalk vendors will also realize what the City had sacrificed
for them.”
A Barangay Chairperson
whose area is located near the marketplace, who requested not to be
named, affirmed that the then crowded sidewalks was an inviting venue
for petty crimes such as pick-pocketing and snatching incidents.
”Hadto, damo nga snatching an natatabo ngan nakakalagyo an suspek
tungod nga nagbubugiot, ngan masiot hin duro nga nakakabara han
drainage nga nagreresulta hin baha.”
Majority of
Taclobanons have lauded the city mayor’s political will to keep the
cleanliness and orderliness of the Tacloban Public Supermarket,
consistently implemented since January of this year. Continuing
improvements are being undertaken such as the renovation of the Annex
B building, and other planned repairs on the market roads and drainage
system.
