Displaced Ermita vendors can now return to their posts

Ambulant vendors who have been shooed away on grounds of obstructing Calderon Street near the Carbon Public Market in Barangay Ermita, Cebu City can now go back to their original posts.

This was the consensus reached during yesterday’s meeting between Ermita Barangay Captain Felicisimo “Imok” Rupinta and Cebu City Councilor David Tumulak, chairman of the council committee on public order and safety.

Rupinta yesterday told reporters that vendors can return to their original spots as long as they maintain the area’s cleanliness and not block the access road for vehicles. If these are observed, there is no reason, he added, for the barangay to demolish the stalls.

It was Rupinta who ordered the clearing of the area last week after a petition was lodged before the barangay council informing officials that a number of residents have been complaining against ambulant vendors obstructing the road.

“Kay panginabuhi man ang akong baruganan, ato gyud ni sila pabalikon. So karon ato sila i-rearrange. Dapat pareha sila og size sa puwesto para angay sa tanan,” Rupinta said.

In addition, Rupinta has also allowed the existence of at least two groups of vendors at the area – Calderon Barracks Association and Calderon Vendors Association – as long as they will cooperate with each other.

In a separate interview, CBA President Juvelyn Gomez said her organization is amenable to the conditions set by the barangay as long as they can continue selling their wares on Calderon Street.

“Kami, amo gipangayo nga magpabilin mi og paninda. Karon maayo nga gisaaran mi sa kapitan nga makabalik mi, unya i-rearrange na,” she said.

Gomez likewise vowed to make the area more organized and neat.

For her part, CVA President Marivic Cose said she was the one who suggested to Tumulak how to improve the area.

“Nakig-meeting ko ni konsehal. Ako suggestion nga i-clear mi diha, then i-arrange nga walay dako ug gamay, dapat patas tanan. Unya dapat magkahiusa ang tanan para walay samok,” she said.

As to the cleanliness issues, Cose said vendors must dispose of their wastes at the proper area.

“Dapat ang duga sa kanal iyabo gyud sa kanal, unya dapat wala nay magtadtad. Og magkuha sa hasang dili didto para walay baho,” she further said.