Manila Mayor Joseph “Erap” Estrada on Thursday ordered the clearing of San Andres Bukid, particularly Onyx Street, which is clogged by junkshops and other obstructions.
City employees raided the portion of Onyx Street from Florentino Torres Street to Zobel Roxas Street, and the section of Zobel Roxas from Palma to Onyx and Tejeron streets.
“Onyx is a vital highway that connects Makati and Manila. It is high time that we cleared this thoroughfare for the convenience of the motorists and the commuting public,” Estrada said.
The city hall’s Task Force Manila Cleanup tore down and removed hundreds of shanties, excess construction materials, illegally parked vehicles, piles of garbage and other obstacles.
A wooden basketball backboard in the middle of Onyx was also confiscated.
Moreover, dozens of illegal vendors on Onyx and on Florentino Street in front of Dagonoy Public Market were also driven away.
The early morning operation mainly targeted the line of Onyx junkshops, according to the task force.
There are around a hundred junkshops on Onyx Street alone; parked vehicles, shanties and illegal structures on the center island also made the road narrower.
The task force said the junkshops with no business permits face sanctions.
The Office of the City Engineer, the Department of Public Services, the Manila Traffic and Parking Bureau, the Manila Barangay Bureau, the Manila Social Welfare Department, the Manila Tricycle Regulatory Office, the Manila Police District, and the Department of Public Works and Highways joined the raiders.
Last Thursday, the city government cleared Juan Luna Street in Divisoria once more and drove away at least 250 illegal vendors.
Since June, Estrada has evicted more than 3,500 illegal vendors.
The mayor led clearing operations in Divisoria, Blumentritt, Quiapo, Binondo, Sta. Cruz, R-10, Pedro Gil and major roads leading to and from the Port of Manila. He also cleaned up the University Belt.