THE MANILA city government has no plan to discontinue “Fusion Alley” in Sampaloc as it provides livelihood to hundreds of people, the head of the unit handling street vendors and public spaces said.
Manila Hawkers Division Director Raffy Alejandro said there is no reason to stop the operations of the food hub as long as vendors comply with city regulations.
“Before we consider shutting it down, what would be the reason? Because you’re going against people’s livelihoods, not your own interests. As long as they comply with the government’s guidelines, we see no reason [to shut down Fusion Alley],” Alejandro told The Flame.
“We have 180 plus tent stalls. Not counting those on the sides. How many people are employed at each stall? In one store, how many employees are there? Let’s say four. These are the people whose livelihoods you would be taking away,” he added.
Fusion Alley, also known as Ugbo 2.0, is a street food hub along I. Delos Reyes street. It was inspired by a night market in Tondo district that offers affordable food.
Fusion Alley has become a popular destination for food enthusiasts and vloggers, but has drawn flak from residents who complained about the supposed excessive noise created by vendors and the trash they leave behind.
In April, Manila Mayor Francisco “Isko” Moreno Domagoso said the food hub had helped some vendors earn substantial incomes, some of them even becoming “millionaires.”
When asked whether the city has long-term plans for Fusion Alley, Alejandro said its future would depend on vendors’ willingness to follow the city government’s rules.
“We have already provided you with a livelihood. The government, the mayor, we have provided you with livelihood opportunities and all the support we can give. But if you choose to do something that goes against government regulations, that is your choice, not ours,” he said.
Moreno previously warned that Fusion Alley could be discontinued if complaints over waste, noise and foul odors persist. He said he would not hesitate to shut down the food strip if the vendors fail to keep the area clean and orderly.
Stricter rules
Alejandro said the city has since prohibited vendors from playing loud music after 8 p.m. and is monitoring their compliance with the regulation.
“As for the noise, you know how vendors sometimes make sounds to attract [customers], but we have now prohibited that. They’re only allowed to do it until 8 p.m.,” Alejandro said.
He added that the city has assigned personnel to conduct daily cleaning and monitor the area’s cleanliness and crowd levels.
According to him, the daily cleaning routine around Manila began at the beginning of the year to address concerns that Fusion Alley was disorganized and unsanitary.
Alejandro said the city’s Hawkers Division, the Department of Environment and Public Services, the Manila Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office and the Department of Engineering and Public Works are among the offices involved in monitoring and maintaining the area.
Drainage declogging is also conducted every Monday, he added.
‘No perfect start’
Alejandro argued that it is only natural for problems to arise at the outset of Fusion Alley, saying the city government’s implementation of regulations cannot be perfect instantly.
“When there are complaints, we address them immediately so we can improve. We won’t be good at it right away. It won’t be perfect right away and it won’t be immediately okay. There are things you have to go through in order to make them better,” he said.
Alejandro said Fusion Alley has generated economic activity beyond the food stalls as vendors buy their ingredients and supplies from businesses in areas such as Divisoria. He described the initiative as a “domino effect,” with the food hub’s growth also creating opportunities for businesses that serve as suppliers of its vendors. F
