Traffic enforcers clear Baclaran streets of colorum vans, street vendors

The Parañaque Traffic and Parking Management has conducted clearing operations in Baclaran.

A report by Mark Salazar on "Balitanghali" on Tuesday said traffic enforcers have apprehended buses and colorum vans that insisted on loading and unloading at illegal areas.

Four colorum vans were towed and brought to an impounding area in Parañaque.

The report said around 3,000 colorum vans travel from Cavite to Baclaran, and 60 to 100 colorum yellow vans travel from Manila to Parañaque. Drivers of colorum vans allegedly pay certain persons an "illegal fee" P50 to be allowed to operate in the area.

The head of the Traffic and Parking Management said he has already dismissed more than 100 traffic enforcers in the last three years due to corruption but the situation has not improved much.

Meanwhile, traffic enforcers also cleared the streets of vendors.

The report said stalls with smaller wheels pay P100 a day while those with bigger ones pay P250 a day.

During the clearing operation, the vendors reportedly fled to the boundary of Pasay City to avoid the Parañaque enforcers.

Some of them were the allegedly same vendors that were originally stationed at Quiapo and Divisoria, the report said.

The clearing operations were conducted for the upcoming Asian Forum on Traffic which will be conducted at the Philippine International Convention Center (PICC).

It also aims to widen the road for the Christmas season.

The Parañaque Traffic and Parking Management plans on conducting the clearing operations for two  weeks straight. — Jessica Alaina Bartolome/VVP, GMA News