Unless they secure health and sanitary permits, food vendors at the so-called “Hepa lane” in Morayta, Manila will not be allowed to resume operation, Mayor Joseph “Erap” Estrada said today.
Describing the serious health risks the recently shutdown popular street food hub pose to the public as “an accident waiting to happen”, Estrada stressed he could not wait for an epidemic to break out before doing something decisive.
Estrada also warned the concerned barangay officials that he will file administrative charges against them if they will allow the return of the food stalls.
In compliance with Estrada’s directives, members of the city’s Department of Public Services (DPS) and Manila Police District (MPD) have been stationed along R. Papa Street in Morayta, the area dubbed as Hepa lane, to drive away food vendors attempting to return.
In coordination with the concerned barangays, Task Force Manila Cleanup chief Che Borromeo said Estrada has ordered them to continuously monitor and guard the University Belt at all costs.
Borromeo has led a series of clearing operations on R. Papa Street, the latest was on Wednesday, that targeted food stalls with no business, sanitary, and health permits.
Not a single one of the food stalls, according to the Manila Health Department (MHD), has access to clean, running water, an indication that foods cooked and served to customers, including utensils, were not being properly cleaned or sanitized.
