The city government is set to send out “notices to vacate” to the owners of all 70 food stalls at the Baywalk for their failure to renew their lease of contracts
City tourism officer Aileen Amurao said the city government might also opt to “totally close” all of them to stop “irregularities” at the Baywalk.
“The stalls were accomodated because… kaya naman pinayagan sila dyan [dati] dahil masasabi kong napakabait ng gobyerno. Imagine-in mo for the longest time nakinabang sila, wala naman ding isang nag-effort sa kanila na ‘Ano ba ang puwede kong magawa para ma-improve ito?’ Wala naman. Gusto natin silang magkaroon ng hanapbuhay, pero hindi sila naging responsable. Siguro panahon na para pagbigyan muna natin ang city government na ayusin,” Amurao pointed out.
She said the three-year contract with the city government expired in May this year, but the stall owners did not make any effort to process the renewal of their permits.
Some already sub-leased their contracts to others and are making profits out of it, Amurao explained, pointing out that the city government is spending more money to support them but they seem to be irresponsible in their commitments.
“Nakita rin natin na malaki ‘yong problema sa mga kontrata. Hindi na ‘yong original na mga ka-kontrata ng city government ‘yong nandidiyan. Allegedly ay binenta at ‘yong iba naman na sub-lease na, binenta ‘yong rights, both doon sa concrete stalls and food stalls,” she also said.
The city does not know whom to talk to, Amurao said.
She also cited the foul odor coming from the sea at the Baywalk caused by the waste discharges from the stalls.
“Hindi na talaga siya maganda sa ating kalusugan, kapag nandiyan ka medyo masangsang na nga ‘yong amoy ng dagat, masangsang pa ‘yong amoy ng lupa dahil lahat ng dumi nandidiyan na. Alam ko mas maiintindihan nila, mas masaya ang lahat kung makikita ng lahat isang araw pag-dilat natin mayroon na tayong bagong baywalk, hindi na siya ‘yong ganyan ngayon,” Amurao said.
She said the Baywalk was not made for these commercial operations so it has no facilities to sustain proper disposal of such wastes coming from commercial stalls.
The city government will conduct a study on the City Baywalk’s condition with the aid of the City Legal Office (CLO) and the City Engineering Office.
“Aaralin ‘yan. Mahirap kasi na magplano ka na may mga tao diyan. Kung dapat tambakan [ay] tatambakan, merong ano (plano) diyan ‘yong Engineering Office, may budget naman for open spaces. So we will put all things in the right perspective kaya pagbigyan sana muna nila na maiayos ‘yan,” Amurao said.
