Estrada warns barangay execs on ‘hepa lane’

Manila Mayor Joseph Estrada yesterday warned that concerned barangay officials and personnel will be charged adminsitratively once they allow the return of evicted illegal food stalls due to sanitation issues in the so called ‘hepa lane’ in the University Belt’s Morayta area.

“They can be administratively charged before the DILG. They could be suspended. Anything illegal in their area, they are liable for it,” he said.

Members of the city’s Department of Public Services (DPS) and Manila Police District (MPD) have been stationed since Thursday morning along R. Papa Street in Morayta to drive away food vendors attempting to return.

In coordination with the concerned barangays, Task Force Manila Cleanup chief Che Borromeo said Estrada has ordered them to continuously monitor and guard the University Belt at all costs.

“Just comply with the Sanitation Code, get a good and clean location, and secure the necessary permits,” Manila Health Department chief Dr. Benjamin Yson said, referring to Presidential Decree No. 856 or the Code on Sanitation of the Philippines.

The law provides that “no person or entity shall operate a food establishment for public patronage without securing a permit from the local health office.”

All food stalls in the area, which largely caters to students, according to Yson, has access to clean, running water, an indication that foods cooked and served to customers, including utensils, were not being properly cleaned or sanitized.