MMDA clears Taft-Baclaran area of obstructions

Eleven weeks away from Christmas Day, the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) evicted hundreds of illegal vendors obstructing vehicular and pedestrian traffic along the Baclaran stretch of Taft Avenue in Pasay City yesterday morning.

MMDA chairman Danilo Lim led a contingent of clearing group members in dismantling structures of vendors who refused to voluntarily remove their stalls on the center and both lanes of Taft Avenue.

"This is a directive of President Duterte, roads must be cleared of illegal vendors," said Lim during an operation in Baclaran area Thursday morning.

Prior to the arrival of the MMDA team, some vendors shut down or voluntarily dismantled their stalls.

No letup Lim, however, ordered the immediate removal of the structures to free up the occupied lanes on the stretch of Taft Avenue.

"Many vendors opted to self-demolish but we will be here to ensure vendors would not return," said Lim who stayed for several hours in Baclaran area to witness the eviction of the vendors.

Duterte’s order

While the clearing operation was ongoing, vendors’ association leaders appealed to Lim to postpone the dismantling of their makeshift stalls until after the Christmas season.

Lim refused, saying that the agency was just complying with the directive of President Duterte to clear the major thoroughfares of obstructions.

"We will put a demarcation line that will mark areas where vendors should vend their goods,” said Lim.

Age old problem Illegal vendors with their carts and structures share the road with passing motorists and pedestrians.

Taft Avenue has four lanes on both directions but have been impassable for decades because of the illegal vendors.

The MMDA met no violent resistance from the vendors selling clothes, shoes, toys, and mobile phone accessories.

Garbage left by vendors also occupied portions of the vital thoroughfare.

“Next week, we will coordinate with the Parañaque local government to complete the stretch of Taft Avenue,” said Lim.

Accountability Lim said they will turn over cleared portion of Taft Avenue to barangay leaders to make them accountable.

“The management of maintaining the orderliness of Taft area will be given to local leaders,” said Lim.

Lim said they will also forward the names of uncooperative barangay leaders to the Department of the Interior and Local Government, who will file administrative charges against them.

Earlier, MMDA general manager Tim Orbos cleared 800 meters of the Roxas Boulevard service road from the corner of Edsa to Rivera Street near Baclaran Church.