Hidalgo: A Proposal

This thread was originally posted on my Yahoo! 360 (360.yahoo.com/my_profile.html;_ylt=AobLwh21zIb_tfMwQsiygySkAOJ3) which was an effort to restore R. Hidalgo St., (in Quiapo, Manila) back to its old glory. This was being undertaken by John Chua and the FPPF.

As a photography student back in the early 90's, R. Hidalgo St. was one of my favorite place for cheap films, developers and papers. It is where I usually go to have my films and negatives processed. Such memory (and am sure every Manila-based photographer has his/ her own) is the reason why I am supportive of this effort and though I was not personally able to attend meetings, I share joy in such a worthy undertaking.

Here are the updates:

More than 70 people from the photo shopowners, camera club members,wedding
photographers association, hobbyists joined forces in attending the
meeting with Mayor Atienza last Thursday July 13,2006. Mayor Atienza was
impressed with the large group who were committed to improved the
rehabilitation of R Hidalgo.. Together with the City Administrator and city engineers,
the Mayor presented his two year old plan in Rehabilitation of Quiapo
starting from San Sebastian Church. But when he look over our proposal,
he was in total agreement that its about time that He should start the rehabilitation
of Quiapo from R Hidalgo. When asked by Mrs. Imee Ong Hallare of Island if the
rehab will be finish by January, the Mayor replied that would be too far. He said that
he will start the project today. He summons Mr. Ader Khan and instructed him to
advise the vendors about the plan. Next day, the vendors were called
for a meeting at City Hall at 9:30 am and were told that they would be relocated
to another site. Thats where the problem began. Today, after four days of tensions,
Cong. Miles Roces has intervene in behalf of the vendors, But he is totally in agreement
with the Mayor on our proposal. Cong. Roces has made sure that the relocation of the
vendors should be fix properly, drainage, lighting and aspahting of the road.
The vendors has expressed their anger towards me and the shop owners,
Right now I am in Singapore attending a Adobe Workshop. I will return on saturday
and seek the assistance of Cong. Roces for a dialoque with the officials of the
vendors association.  I hope cooler heads will intervene in this nasty
situation. ---  John Chua

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The vendors upon the instruction of the Mayor will be transferred to
the ramp beside the bridge.  They will be allowed to sell only from
6am to 8pm then they have to fold up and store elsewhere their
stuff.  This policy of organized vending is what we plan to
implement in the area.

The City Engineer just needs to flatten the relocation site since at
the moment, it has drainage/flooding problems.  After the relocation
area is fixed, then the vendors along Hidalgo will be moved and
pedestrianization will eventually follow.  I have not seen the
actual plan for the pedestrianization but will update you once I get
it from the City Engineer.  Hopefully all of these will happen
within a months time.....and also the store/shop owners is expected
to do their share in the urban renewal effort of the City by fixing
up their frontage as fix Hidalgo.

Cheers to those who initiated/pioneered in this noble project.  I am
one in this project and will support the Hidalgo project.

Joy Dawis-Asuncion
City Administrator's Office