By Jun Tarroza

Ormoc City- They tried to negotiate so that their stay on their old posts could be extended while the Christmas season lasts – to no avail. They had to go.

So said Virgie Labus, president of the Ormoc Fruits Vendors’ Ass.( OFVA). She was shocked to learn that her members selling on the sidewalks at Ormoc Gaisano Capital, bus and jeepney terminals, and at public market were demolished by the city demolition team and traffic police officers last week and transferred to a site where buyers are least expected to go.

Two weeks ago, they met City Administrator Vincent Emnas to discuss the demolition, appealing that they be relocated only on Dec. 31 because of peak sales experienced during

the Christmas season. But their appeal was not granted.

The administrator would not give due consideration to the length of time that they have been vending or that most of them do not have alternative livelihoods.

The OFVA has 67 members, out of which 47 have been displaced. Labus herself has a fruit stall beside the Ormoc mini-forest for which she was paying P40 a day for a ticket from the city government. The demolition was sudden that they were not even consulted with the plan to relocate her members to a strip of public along Veloso St., Sitio Toog, Cogon, this city. To be sure, there will be no‘ Merry Christmas’ for many of them, she said.

About two months ago, it was the vegetable vendors who were demolished and transferred to the second floor of one of the market buildings where buyers are also least expected to visit.

According to Labus, many women market vendors cried when the police forcibly removed their displays and transferred them to a site 4-5 kilometers from the city proper. She said some of her members approached the mayor, but their appeal was also unheeded.

( Go to p. 2)

To you the latest news, above all we Touches your!!!! For Advertisement please contact: ALLAN Y. AMISTOSO Station Manager L-( 053) 832-7756; M- 0905-483-6860 E- allanamistoso @ ymail. com / dyxvfm @ yahoo. com Office Address: 4th floor Yao Building, Pericohon Real Street, Tacloban City

Christmas is a season not only of rejoicing but of reflection. * Winston Churchill