The city government has started a massive cleanup at the waterfront public market as well as in the central business district here.

On orders of Mayor John Dalipe, City Administrator Mario Yanga said Tuesday market alleys and sidewalks are now being cleared of ambulant vendors and fish brokers.

“We start first with keeping the main public market clean and putting everything in proper order,” Yanga said, adding the market’s aisles and sidewalks should be used by market-goers and not by vendors or fish brokers.

Fish vendors and brokers have been moved to the back portion of the waterfront market to keep the front of the market dry and clean.

Yanga said a garbage truck has been assigned inside the market to collect wastes.

He said the next target would be the illegal parking of vehicles mostly owned by the fish brokers.

Yanga said the local government also intends to get rid of the so-called “shadow government,” inside the waterfront public market.

“The city government should call the shots in the market, especially in the collection of fees and nobody else,” he said.

Meanwhile, he said cleanliness and orderliness in sidewalks and streets in the downtown area here has also started.

Yanga said efforts to clear sidewalks of obstruction are undertaken to bring back orderliness to ensure public safety. (PNA)