Volunteers mobilized to bring back old glory of Malate, Ermita tourist belt
Club and restaurant operators are keen on clearing the tourist belt of ambulant young vendors, vagrants, and street dwellers during unholy hours even before the proposed nationwide curfew on minors is realized by the next administration of incoming President Rodrigo R. Duterte.
Last Friday, police officers from Remedios Police Community Precinct (PCP), and Barangay officials led a clearing operation around the so-called tourist belt following a request made by the Manila Association of Club and Restaurant Operators (MACRO) in accordance with its program of regaining the old glory of Ermita and Malate areas as the capital city’s main tourist area.
From 7 p.m. to 11 p.m. last May 20, policemen and barangay officials swept through the streets of Rajah Sulayman, Roxas Blvd East service road, Pedro Gil, M.H. Del Pilar, Mabini, Adriatico, Jorge Bocobo, Ma Orosa, Taft Ave and Remedios street and brought some 32 minors and 19 adults to the Remedios PCP for a brief orientation on making the tourist spots ‘visitor-friendly.’
“Ito yung mga nagtitinda ng bulaklak pero minsan dinidikitan na din nila yung turista, nadudukutan. Yung iba naman, dun nagluluto tapos may kariton sila. Bawal yun. Yung ginagamit na yung area for private use,” Senior Inspector Rodolfo Ronald LeeChiu, Remedios PCP commander said.
“Sa PCP, binigyan namin sila ng briefing na bawal yung mga ganun. Sabi namin pangit tingnan yung mga ganun dahil tourist spot yun,” LeeChiu added.
He said the minors were promptly released to their parents who were also invited to the seminar. The police officer stressed that if the same children were seen in the Malate and Ermits areas, they will be sent to the Manila Department of Social Welfare.
Officers from barangays 699, 698, 697 and 696 also joined the policemen in the clearing operations last Friday.
Jing Langomez, MACRO president, said volunteer groups will continue with the clearing operations to improve the image of Malate and Ermita areas.