By Bohol Sunday Post
Amidst the peace and quite in the pier area, there seemed to be a brewing tug-of-war prevailing nowadays involving vendors on one hand and authorities of the Philippine Ports Authority on the other. The PPA exercising jurisdiction over the contested area, in so many communications in the past, urged members of the Tagbilaran Port Stall Vendors' Association, Inc. to move from its present location citing existing deplorable state and dilapidated condition of the stalls occupied by the association members. Not only is the prevailing condition caught the attention of the PPA, but also that of local and foreign tourists visiting the province, this according to Port Manager Manuel Boholano. A portion of the pier area was leased to at least 21 vendors plying all sorts of wares to both arriving and departing passengers but their presence according to the PPA posed health and fire hazards in the place. According to Boholano, there were initial talks made to facilitate the correction of the infractions but so far non of these talks have materialized. The PPA said the terms and conditions being set were not met by the organization and or concerned institutions.
As this developed, the PPA set the deadline for vendors to vacate the area not later than March 31, 2010. A relocation site was readied by the PPA just within the vicinity of the pier area. But the vendors association is not about†to throw in the towel†given the PPA protestation. The vendors argued that before any relocation is to be effected, they are raising the following concerns to be addressed:
• Regarding compliance of the Permit to Operate (PTO), they want to be clarified as to which comes first. They want to know the proper procedure because on Jan. 5, 2011, it was agreed that before the PTO is issued the vendors have to secure first a mayor's permit.
• About the mayor's permit, city hall refuses to issue a mayor's permit not unless the vendors will present a lease contract from the PPA.
• Submission f Barangay Clearance. In a meeting on February 8, 2010, it was agreed that in the absence of a lessor's contract, a barangay clearance will suffice to legitimize their operations.
• On the March 31, 2010 deadline, the vendors wants to be clarified what the PPA meant that the area should be cleared of vendors. The affected parties said they want to be were clarified that if they fail to secure the PTO, will it mean that they will be ejected of their present location.
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Topic: Tagbilaran Pier Vendors vs Philippine Ports Authority (PPA) (Read 1071 times)