MMDA: Street vendors also banned from taking shelter under flyovers

By Joel E. Zurbano

THE Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) on Friday stated that ambulant and street vendors are also covered by its new policy prohibiting the taking of shelter under footbridges and flyovers during heavy downpour.

Meanwhile, Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD)

Secretary Rex Gatchalian has sought the assistance of the Department of Human Settlements and Urban Development (DHSUD) to provide temporary shelters to street individuals and families who are most vulnerable to inclement weather.

“The vendors, we are going after them because they have no permits to do it (illegal vending) in any public spaces. That is really prohibited,” said MMDA Traffic Enforcement Group chief Victor Nuñez.

“One of our departments monitors and operates against illegal vendors,” he added.

The MMDA at present operates against illegally parked vehicles and vendors in line with the government’s campaign to clear the streets and sidewalks of all obstructions to further ease traffic flow in the metropolis.

The agency on Aug. 1 started penalizing motorcycle riders using footbridges and flyovers as shelters during heavy downpour. During the first day of implementation, nine riders were caught, issued citation tickets, and fined P1,000 each for road obstruction along Epifanio de los Santos Avenue (EDSA).

The MMDA issued the order following a meeting with representatives of motorcycle ride-hailing firms - Grab,