Everyone who has been to the Alabang viaduct area would remember one thing -- the heavy traffic in the area affecting both vehicles and pedestrians.
The main culprit? Dozens of vendors occupying the sidewalks and sometimes the roads themselves.
This "eyesore" of an image of congested streets in the Alabang viaduct area has been changed when the Muntinlupa City government last week started clearing the sidewalks of makeshift stalls and illegally parked vehicles, following a surprise visit from President Rodrigo Duterte.
It's been reported that the president inspected the Muntinlupa area riding his motorcycle to see the traffic situation in the municipality when he witnessed a number vendors with their stalls in inappropriate places.
He then went straight to Muntinlupa Mayor Jaime Fresnedi. Since then, the local government of Muntinlupa has been busy with sidewalk-clearing operations.
The sidewalk in front the Muntinlupa Market has been fully occupied by fruit vendors and people had to literally walk on the streets, adding to the already burdensome vehicular traffic condition. This is the same scenario for most roads and alleys surrounding the Alabang viaduct area.
According to Senior Supt. Teresita Salvadora, who headed the operations, the law mandates a one-meter breadth of sidewalk free of obstructions for pedestrians. “Even overhead fixtures should not go beyond that boundary,” she said.
The middle portion of the service road, which runs right under the viaduct and once looked like a wet market due to the sheer number of stalls crowding it, was first to be cleared.
The Alabang viaduct area covers both the northbound and southbound lanes of Manila Service Road and its intersections at Alabang-Zapote Road and Montillano Street.
Tez Navarro, head of the city’s public information office, said the local government was working out livelihood programs for the affected vendors and their families.
“They can be trained in food processing, sewing, or other skills for work abroad, such as bartending. We can give scholarships (for their children). We have to identify first those who are really from Muntinlupa. Nonresidents will be sent back to their respective cities,” Navarro said.
Photo: Facebook/Dwan Abantao
Sources: Inquirer | Journal Online
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