Vendors form human barricade in Philcoa to protest clearing ops

Vendors belonging to the Metro Manila Vendors Association (MMVA) organized a human barricade on Friday morning at the Philcoa area in Quezon City to protest clearing operations, a report on News To Go said.

The vendors' action is in response to a notice from the Sangguniang Panlunsod sent to them on Thursday asking them to vacate the area on Friday, Flor Santos, coordinator of MMVA, said, in the report by GMA News' Bernadette Reyes.

MMVA said the Market Code guarantees the rights of vendors including the right to put up temporary vending sites.

The vendors added they have permits and are paying fees for the use of the location.

If they are indeed causing traffic, the vendors are asking the city government to find another place for them, GMA News' Bernadette Reyes reported.

About 100 vendors will be affected in Quezon City alone, the report said.

The same situation, however, is felt by vendors in other areas where authorities conduct clearing operations.

The vendors said they will not leave Philcoa to monitor if their stalls will be dismantled Friday.

The head of the task force which will dismantle the stalls has arrived before noon, a report on Balitanghali said. —KG, GMA News