Orendain clarifies candle vendors issue
Contrary to insinuations that City Hall is inconsiderate of the plight of candle vendors, City caretaker and Administrator Antonio Orendain Jr. said the demolition of candle stalls Tuesday was a result of a consensus reached upon by the city government and the legitimate members of the Candle vendors Association as early as February.
Orendain said Mayor Celso Lobregat has personally discussed with the members of the association regarding the proposal to construct the Plaza del Pilar, a souvenir shop with parking space, in front of the Fort Pilar Shrine that required the clearing of the area.
He said the association members agreed with the idea and were informed that their business permits would no longer be renewed starting January to pave way for the project. Likewise, the candle vendors were informed that the project would start as soon as bidding of the project is over by March or April and that they will be relocated to a temporary site where they can continue with their livelihood until the construction of the Plaza del Pilar is completed.
According to Orendain, the earlier announcement that the vendors would leave the area by March or April did not push through as there was failure of bidding for the said project. The bidding, however, succeeded last August, thus, the issuance of the final notice last September 8.
The first notice was issued by the City Engineer’s Office January 15, 2009 (notice to vacate); the second was August 11 (notice to voluntarily demolish stalls) and the third was September 8 (notice to demolish stalls/ structures).
“We have called the candle vendors association sometime February to explain about the project, they saw the perspective and they all agreed that sooner they will have a better place where they can conduct their business”, the city caretaker said. “When we ordered them to vacate the area last February, over half of them vacated and the others promised to leave the area as soon as the notice to commence the project is issued”.
The association members were also surveyed and tagged by personnel from the City Housing and Land Management Division (HLMD) that would make them a priority to apply for space at the soon to be constructed Plaza del Pilar, Orendain said.
Demolition crew from the CEO Monday morning assisted the vendors who were voluntarily tearing down their stalls based on the notices issued to them. The city administrator’s office has not received any formal request for extension or opposition to the demolition process.
Orendain said Mayor Lobregat has allowed the utilization of the vacant area fronting the walls of the Zamboanga State College of Marine Sciences and Technology (ZSCMST) at the left side of the shrine.
To ensure ample space, the temporary stalls will have a uniform size—2x4 square foot-tables and huge umbrella for vendors to sell candles and religious items.
The city caretaker yesterday instructed the Task Force Limpiesa to make sure that the setting up of the temporary stalls will be in accordance with what was agreed upon during the meeting between the city and the vendors. Some vendors met with Orendain yesterday morning seeking further instructions relative to their relocation.
While some vendors brought their plea to the City Council yesterday morning, those who met with the city administrator were already setting up their temporary stalls at the relocation site.
“There was prior agreement and nothing can be changed right now,” Orendain added.
The Plaza del Pilar project sits in a 7,328.87 square meters area. It costs P25.4 million and consists of the site development, drainage system and the plaza del Pilar complex. (Sheila Covarrubias)