A PORTION of the main JR Borja road that will be closed off to vehicular traffic will be given to the sidewalk vendors so they can sell without inconveniencing the public, Cagayan de Oro City Mayor Rolando ‘Klarex’ Uy said last Friday.
“I told (our stakeholders) that we’ll give a space at the main (JR Borja road) that isn’t passable by vehicular traffic and maybe we can have it closed so they can sell thereby section—the fruits section, ukay-ukay (used clothing) section, etc. (So everything is organized and) their location won’t worsen the traffic congestion,” Uy said in Visayan.
Uy confirmed his decision to prohibit sidewalk vendors from selling their wares at the JR Borja main road, Capt. Vicente Roa Street to JR Borja Extension during Monday morning’s flag-raising program.
In meeting with the Roads and Traffic Administration, the city police, and City Economic Enterprises Department, Uy laid down several guidelines for sidewalk vendors to follow.
Aside from prohibiting vendors to sell at JR Borja road, JR Borja Extension, and Capt. Vicente Roa Street, the vendors are only allowed to sell at their designated areas from 6:00 pm to 5:00 am. Sidewalk vendors are also required to clean and collect their garbage. Each of them must have its own container, such as a sack, for trash.
Violators will be fined and issued an Ordinance Violation Receipt.
Uy said he arrived at his decision after inspecting the areas near the Cogon market site and saw how the sidewalk vendors, particularly those selling ala carte (roasted meats) occupied nearly all of the road at JR Borja and Capt. Vicente Roa Streets all the way to JR Borja Extension.
“Especially since the holidays are coming, I wanted everything to be put in place,” Uy said in Visayan.
Like most people, Uy said sidewalk vendors have families and they want to earn extra during the Christmas and New Year holidays.
“But their continued presence (at JR Borja Street) also draws buyers who park their cars at the side and this only worsens the traffic there,” Uy said. (Stephen Capillas of City Information Office)
