The days of illegal vendors and terminals in the nation’s capital will be over soon as Manila Mayor Joseph Ejercito Estrada gave a one-day ultimatum to remove obstructions that contribute to traffic congestion in areas of the city once branded by a foreign news website as the world’s third worst city for driving.
On Friday, Vice Mayor Francisco “Isko Moreno” Domagoso conducted a surprise inspection in various areas in the capital particularly in places where illegal terminals and vendors are rampant.
Moreno said that Estrada gave illegal terminals particularly along Lawton and in front of the old Manila Metropolitan Theater one day to clear out or face the consequences.
“Binibigyan po lamang ng hanggang ngayong araw para po mag-baklas ang lahat ng ilegal na terminal na naka-kalat sa mga lasangan na siyang nagpapasikip sa daan na nagdudulot ng trapiko sa atin pong lungsod. [We are giving all illegal terminals that cause traffic congestion only until today (Friday) to disband.]”, Moreno said.
Moreno and some officials from the Manila Police District started inspected the sidewalks and streets along Lawton all the way up to the University-belt area and discovered several one-way portions of the road being used as illegal terminals for jeepneys, pedicabs, tricycles, and mega taxis.
“Okay lang ngayon sige pero bukas wala na, ha? Huhulihiin na kayo bukas, may multa na. [Ok, they will be forgiven and allowed only until today (Friday) but starting tomorrow (Saturday), all violators will be penalized]”, the vice mayor said.
Moreno also warned street vendors congesting the sidewalks of the city not to take over the entire walkway.
Around 30 illegal terminal operators and sidewalk vendors received warnings from Moreno’s team during the inspection.
Moreno said their operation is part of the former president’s clean-up program to bring back the old glory of the 442-year-old city author Dan Brown described in his latest book as “one of the gates of hell.”
Meanwhile, Estrada said he is planning to increase the city’s property taxes which have not been increased for the past five years.
In an interview with a local cable news channel, the new mayor said his administration is definitely in need of new and alternative sources of income since the city is bankrupt.
“The properties (in the city) have not been assessed for four to five years, so we have to reassess (them). In fact, there’s graft and corruption there. It is not transparent and not in the computer. It is (done manually),” Estrada said.
The country’s former chief executive said that whatever project they want to implement, it all boils down to funding that they don’t have much of.
