Manila Mayor Joseph Estrada has ordered the clearing of Raon Street in Quiapo of hundreds of sidewalk vendors and eyesores that have clogged the so-called “electronics capital of the Philippines” for many years.
Dubbed as the country’s “electronics capital,” Raon is known for its wide array of stores selling electric supplies and electronics such as audio equipment systems, tools, hardware, and even computers, parts, and accessories.
On Monday, Task Force Manila Cleanup, under the direction of Estrada, cleared the entire stretch of Raon (now called Gonzalo Puyat Street) from Rizal Avenue to Quezon Boulevard.
More than 400 illegal vendors were driven away and at least six truckloads of trash, from vendors’ makeshift wooden stalls to pushcarts, were collected.
Task Force Manila Cleanup head Che Borromeo said the cleanup of Raon, a popular electronics shopping center, was long overdue.
“They have virtually occupied the center of the street, unmindful that they block traffic flow, so that’s why they have to go now. We’ve been lenient with them for such a long time,” Borromeo said.
The Raon operation was carried out after the city hall’s Bureau of Permits revoked the special permits given to sidewalk vendors in Raon, according to her. The permits allow the vendors to sell their wares in designated areas for a certain period of time.
“The problem is that the number of sidewalk vendors have swelled,” Borromeo stressed.
“Some even live in the streets,” he added.
The city government has recently cleared Divisoria, Blumentritt Street, the Sta. Cruz-Rizal Avenue area and Quiapo in an attempt to decongest the city’s main thoroughfares and bring back what Estrada described as Manila’s “beauty and old glory.”
Last Wednesday, Task Force Manila Cleanup also cleared Juan Luna and Sta. Elena streets in Binondo, which also led to the discovery of a suspected drug den under the Muello De Binondo bridge.
Estrada also urged the public to help decongest traffic by leaving their vehicles in designated parking areas and proceeding to their destinations on foot.
“Many people still have no discipline in parking their vehicles. They want to park their vehicles as near to their destinations as possible even if they obstruct traffic,” the mayor pointed out.
In highly urbanized cities around the world such as Tokyo, Seoul, New York and Beijing, Estrada said, people seldom use private vehicles and prefer mass transport systems.
“They usually walk and explore the cities on foot, which is a good exercise and stress-reliever, and incidentally helps reduce traffic volume,” he pointed out.