MANILA Mayor Francisco “Isko Moreno” Domagoso defended the continued operation of “Fusion Alley” amid complaints about noise and unsanitary conditions, but said the city could “do better” in addressing problems at the food strip during a media forum on Wednesday, July 29.
“Tell them I’m really concerned about the plight of our students, because the idea is for you to have access to cheaper, cleaner, accessible food, since it’s surrounded by dormitories,” Domagoso said at Kapihan sa Manila in response to a question from the Varsitarian.
Domagoso said he would shut down the popular food strip entirely if the complaints continued, but defended the initiative as an improvement over the previous setup, when vendors operated without regulation along sidewalks and streets near the university.
“What puzzles me is, when they were scattered all over before, nobody complained,” he said.
“When it got organized, then I found out—the ones complaining were the ones who lost their business extension [on the sidewalks],” he added.
Domagoso imposed a “zero- vendor policy” when he returned to city hall in 2025, temporarily displacing street vendors.
In September 2025, Domagoso allowed street food vendors to set up stalls on I. Delos Reyes Street near UST’s P. Noval gate. The strip became known as “Fusion Alley.”
“So when I came in… [I said], ‘Isn’t it possible, which street can we give? What [street] can we designate for a particular hour, a particular day, without inconveniencing everyone?’” Domagoso said.
Domagoso stressed that Fusion Alley’s regulated setup was intended to protect student safety, citing the street’s closure to vehicles during operating hours.
“That’s your safety—we shut down the road at that particular time so students can walk properly and safely. That’s the heart of it. That’s the intention,” he said.
On Facebook, a barangay kagawad (village council member), Ricky de Leon, urged Domagoso to act on the complaints and claimed Fusion Alley was in violation of city ordinances.
“Hindi ko po hangad na balewalain ang pag-angat ng kabuhayan ng ating mga vendor, bagkus, bilib po ako sa kanila dahil po sa kanilang sipag at dedikasyon sa kanilang negosyo. Pero sa isang banda, mas makakabuti po kung maibabalanse ang lahat dahil may mga kabarangay po kami na lubos na naaapektuhan, o sabihin na natin na napeperwisyo, diyan po sa operasyon ng Fusion Alley,” he wrote on his page.
(I do not wish to disregard the efforts to improve the livelihoods of our vendors. On the contrary, I admire them for their hard work and dedication to their businesses. However, it would be better if everything could be properly balanced, because there are residents in our barangay who are significantly affected—or, to put it plainly, inconvenienced—by the operations of Fusion Alley.)
A November 2025 story by the Varsitarian reported complaints, notably from students living in the area, as Fusion Alley operations increased foot traffic and noise pollution.
Residents also complained of foul odor every morning from improperly disposed of wastewater.
READ: Fusion Alley draws crowds, complaints from students, residents
The mayor said I. Delos Reyes Street was flushed every morning, disputing complaints of bad smell coming from trash produced by street food vendors.
“At night, I have it cleaned, and in the daytime I have it flushed out,” Domagoso said.
He said the food hub had produced millionaires.
“So it created an opportunity, business. All I ask of them, I always tell them, is that I want the street usable and passable in the morning—clean it up,” he said.
Domagoso earlier said Fusion Alley would operate “as long as the people like it.”
During the July 29 Kapihan sa Manila, Domagoso outlined concrete measures of the city administration on housing, employment, education, and health. Paolo Emmanuel D.C. Blanco
