MANILA has rolled out a “Zero Vendor Policy” to clear some of the city’s busiest streets, and while the zones around UST are not part of the main crackdown, vendors are bracing for potential effects and calling for a kinder approach to its enforcement.
Introduced by Mayor Francisco “Isko” Moreno Domagoso in his second term, the policy seeks to ease congestion and improve pedestrian flow by banning vending on Avenida, Blumentritt, Carriedo, Juan Luna, Linao, Padre Faura, Palanca, Pedro Gil, Plaza Miranda, and Soler.
Vendors on the four streets surrounding UST — España Boulevard, P. Noval, Lacson, and Dapitan — consider themselves fortunate to still be operating, as they were only instructed to move their carts to clear pedestrian access.
Still, they expressed sadness for fellow vendors whose stalls — and daily livelihoods — were shut down.
For 25 years, fruit vendor Maria Jane Saludan has kept her blue stall by the España crosswalk, using her income to send three of her six children to college.
“Nasa maayos naman kami, … pero ‘yong iba naming kapwa vendor, apektado,” she said. “Hindi na sila nakapagtitinda nang maayos. ‘Pag dumating ‘yong clearing operations, takbo. Walang benta.”
In a July city hall meeting, Domagoso reminded street vendors in Manila to maintain cleanliness, keep walkways clear, and ensure that stalls do not block traffic.
The policy follows a 2024 DILG memorandum circular on the nationwide implementation of barangay road clearing operations, which seeks to “remove obstructions and illegal constructions that could help motorists to drive better, and for pedestrians to find safe areas to walk on” by “reclaiming the streets, alleys, and walkways” and “conducting road clearing operations.”
Saludan hopes the policy’s execution considers the vendors’ need to earn a living.
“Sana, bigyan nila kahit kaunting space, kasi ‘yon ang hanapbuhay ng tao. … Hindi naman lahat ng tao may pinag-aralan, nasa opisina (ang trabaho). May iba na kahit walang pinag-aralan, talagang kumakayod para may ipapaaral sila sa anak nila.”
Longtime vendor Gregorio Resultay, who has sold santol and Indian mango at P. Noval for 22 years, was told to move his cart farther from the road to avoid blocking vehicles.
While spared from closure, he said the clearing operations still affected him and made him more mindful of keeping the streets tidy.
Resultay said vendors pay city hall P20 daily and undergo regular inspections. He expressed willingness to comply but hoped the city would allow them to keep working.
“Sana payagan kami rito para mabuhay naman ‘yong mga pamilya namin at makabayad kami sa renta,” he said. “Dito kami kumukuha ng pang-araw-araw sa bahay.”
Some vendors faced harsher disruptions, like Luna Rey, a pares seller of five years, who recalled clearing operations halting service while customers were still eating.
Rey called on the city to give them proper selling spots.
“Bigyan lang kami ng tamang pwesto, okay na ‘yon. Wala naman kasing problema sa amin ‘yong clearing kasi para din naman ‘yon sa kalinisan ng Maynila. ‘Yong tamang pwesto lang sana para okay din kami,” he said.
On Dapitan, french fries vendor Jeremy Corong estimates surprise clearing drives to have cut his sales by around 20%.
Beyond the financial hit, he said the stress has been heavy.
“‘Yong ibang vendor, nagkakaroon na sila ng trauma,” he said. “Kahit hindi naman sila kukuhanin, nagliligpit na sila.”
Sometimes, Corong added, it feels like it’s just for show.
“Papaalisin muna kami, tapos pipicturan nila, o kaya padadaluyin mo na lang ‘yung traffic bago kami pabalikin.”
He hopes street vendors are granted more rights, even if it means paying taxes.
“Naging legal na sa kanila ‘yong tawagin kaming illegal vendor,” he said. “Kahit may taxes naman, willing naman kaming magbayad. … Huwag lang sana dumating sa punto na talagang pwersahan kukunin ‘yong mga paninda namin.”
The vendor-clearing initiative is part of Domagoso’s broader effort to clean up Manila after inheriting a garbage crisis when contractors halted operations over unpaid fees.
Moreno had said about P950 million in payments for garbage collection services from the past administration remained unsettled. D.N.C. Cortes with reports from Ashley Valkyrie E. Bueno
