As the city government continues to implement clearing operations against road obstructions and street peddling, Mayor Beng Climaco revealed that an ordinance is now being proposed in the City Council that seeks to establish a night market at the old public market downtown.

“It is really my desire to have a night market for those who will be affected by the clearing operations so that they can eke out a living by night,” Climaco said on “Dateline Teleradyo” over GBPI TV11 yesterday morning. “We do not want to displace our vendors.”

She said the proposed ordinance is being authored by Councilor Cesar Jimenez Sr. and the objective is to establish a site within the market premises where vendors are allowed.

At present, the mayor said illegal vendors at the public market are apprehended even at night time because they are at the wrong place.

“So, we want to give a space like a night market. In the absence of an ordinance yet, we are asking for the vendors’ or the public’s cooperation to instill order in the market,” the mayor said.

Climaco stressed the city government under her administrative remain compliant with the orders of the President, from the war on illegal drugs to clearing the roads/streets of obstructions.

She said the Task Force Ordinance composed of personnel from the City Administrator’s Office and the police continues to implement clearing operations. An information campaign is being conducted on this regard.

To recall, the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) central office has instructed all local government units in the country to rid their respective roads of obstructions.

The directive issued by Interior Secretary Eduardo Año to remove road obstructions in 60 days covers not only Metro Manila but the entire country. This, after President Duterte, in his State of the Nation Address (SONA) last July 22, ordered the LGUs to reclaim public roads which are being used for private purposes.-(Vic Larato)