Traffic Management Center (TMC) chief Desidero Cloribel yesterday led the speedy action of clearing sidewalks fronting elementary schools for the safety of pupils.
Following Tuesday’s City Council resolution to address the problem, Cloribel said TMC personnel have cleared the sidewalks fronting schools on Magallanes and and Ponciano streets.
Other than this, the retired colonel also assured presence of TMC personnel in the area knowing school entrances are bound to get condensed before and after classes.
“Naa tay at least isa ka tao sa kada eskwelahan. The same goes para sa Magallanes ug Kapitan Tomas. Naay isa sa atubangan sa skwelahan ug naa puy isa nga naa sa dalan,” Cloribel said during the I-Speak media forum of the City Information Office.
The matter stemmed from a city council resolution passed June 5 (Tuesday) requesting for the removal of ambulant vendors outside public schools.
Councilor Pilar Braga, the proponent, cited several complaints she received that sidewalk vendors are causing danger to pedestrians outside public schools.
“Due to the sidewalk vendors, pedestrians, adults and school children alike can’t walk through the sidewalk but instead they have to walk or pass on the street,” she said.
“The area is busy with all kinds of vehicles passing through. This condition are hazards ond dangerous to pedestrians, especially our school children. The vendors appropriating the sidewalks should be removed,” Braga said.
Meanwhile, Cloribel said the government still adheres to the directive of then mayor Rodrigo Duterte to allow vendors to occupy not more than 1/3 of a sidewalk’s width for their modest livelihood.
“Alam ng mga tao ang 1/3, 2/3 rule. It is not followed a hundred percent but a majority is respecting that,” Cloribel said. “But as traffic enforcers we are also given the mandate to clear the areas which are very busy at hindi talaga pwedeng merong sidewalk vendors that’s why we conduct these sweeps,” he added.
The city council also requested the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) and the TMC to repaint and enhance pedestrian lanes. [jade c. zaldivar]
