THE Dagupan city government’s sidewalk recovery program has so far cleared some major streets in the city of illegal vendors, illegally parked vehicles, stalls and other obstructions.

The sidewalk clearing operations are conducted by personnel from the city engineer’s office (CEO) in compliance with City Ordinance No. 1873-2006 which prohibits the use of sidewalks as parking area, and any purpose other than as passageways for pedestrians.

The ordinance also requires all establishments to mark a 10-meter setback from the government property line.

Criticisms have been aired lately about a seeming return of ambulant vendors and sidewalk sellers along the downtown area and major streets after the previous Lim city administration that went all out against these obstructions bowed out in the last elections

It was learned that the streets of AB Fernandez West, Careenan, Bonifacio, Nueva, Fernandez, Jovellanos, Rivera, Mayombo, Caranglaan and a portion of Herrero-Perez have been cleared since the start of the clearing operations on October 4.

City engineer Virginia Rosario assured that more streets in the city will be cleared in the coming months.

The engineering office will dismantle illegal structures and will not issue building permits to those establishments that are found violating rules.

A notice of violation will be served to the establishment owner for a one-week grace period before any actual demolition is ordered or penalty imposed, Rosario said.