Sidewalk vendors of Divisoria market in Manila held a noise barrage on Wednesday, August 17, to protest the clearing operations which resulted to the displacement of their makeshift stalls—making livelihoods more difficult. The clearing operations was ordered by Manila Mayor Joseph Estrada and head of Task Force Manila Cleanup Che Borromeo.
According to Nanay Minita, 60, “fifteen years na akong nagtitinda dito sa Divisoria tapos bigla kaming papaalisin sa bangketa. Isang buwan na nga akong walang kita at mapabaon sa mga anak ko. [I have been a vendor at Divisoria for 15 years then they will force us to leave. I have no income for a month now so my children have no pocket money when they go to school.]”
They also urged other vendors around Metro Manila to participate on Monday, August 22, in a vendors’ city-wide protest in opposition to Manila’s clearing operations of sidewalk vendors.
Photos by Mel Matthew Doctor
