Ousted Manila vendor pleads for space to sell wares

Minor Pangunutan stacks bags of shoes and sandals worth P200,000 along the walkway leading to his home in San Agustin, Manila, on Monday, July 15, 2019. Pangunutan is one of more than 50 vendors who have been told to leave the Manila City Hall underpass. Tina Panganiban-Perez

Minor Pangunutan stacks plastic bags of shoes and sandals worth P200,000 along the walkway leading to his home in San Agustin, Manila.

He knows he is at the mercy of thieves and nature but says, “Wala na kaming mapapagtambakan.”

Pangunutan is one of more than 50 vendors who have been told to leave the Manila City Hall underpass.

Pangunutan told GMA News that he had been selling shoes and sandals at the City Hall underpass for seven years now.

He said he paid “organizers” P750 per day for the use of a space measuring three by two square meters, with an additional P15 for electricity.

“Masaya nga po kami nawalan kami ng organizer nung dumating po 'yung revocation ng permit kasi akala po namin ito na 'yung pagkakataon na baka namang direkta na tayong makakabayad ng city hall, maliitan 'yung bayad namin,” Pangunutan said.

He said he and the other vendors were surprised when the revocation order cited unpaid electricity bills as one of the reasons for the cease and desist order.

Pangunutan is appealing to Manila Mayor Isko Moreno for space where they can sell their wares. Their loss of livelihood, Pangunutan said, will not only affect their daily needs but the education of their children as well.

“Panawagan ko po sa ating mahal na mayor na si Mayor Isko Moreno na mapansin po kaming mga mahihirap,” he said. — BM, GMA News