Carriedo Street, which links Quiapo to the Sta. Cruz district, had been closed to traffic for almost a decade after the area was rented to Muslim traders who established a flea market along the whole stretch.

Lim said he has already given an ultimatum to some 500 vendors plying their trade along the street to leave the area for the reopening of Carriedo.

The mayor said businesses in the area have already gained much profit from the street’s closure and that it is time to give motorists a break by reopening the road to vehicular traffic.

Lim earlier reopened Rizal Avenue to vehicular traffic.

The closure of Carriedo and Rizal Avenue had been blamed for the heavy traffic in Sta. Cruz and Quiapo. This has been the subject of complaints by travelers and residents as well as businessmen in both districts.

Lim assured vendors along Carriedo that they would be given space on both sides of the streets provided they coordinate with city hall to regulate their trade.

In another move, Lim ordered the dismantling of the improvised stages erected along Baywalk on Roxas Blvd. following complaints from foreign delegates participating in the ongoing Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Ministerial Meeting who are billeted at hotels along the boulevard.

Lim, who attended the ASEAN meeting yesterday, said some of the delegates complained to him that they had a hard time sleeping because of the noise coming from the bands performing along Baywalk.

"Wala naman silang mga permit kaya dapat lang na alisin ang mga ito, lalo na dahil inirereklamo sila sa ingay na ginagawa nila," the mayor said.

The mayor directed Manila City Hall Police Office chief Col. Alejandro Gutierrez to serve notice on the owners of the establishments in the area to stop band performances.

Lim said he learned that people living near the vicinity of Baywalk have also been complaining of the non-stop loud music, causing them sleepless nights.

He said he found out that most, if not all, of the establishments lining up the Baywalk area have been operating without the required permits from the City Hall and are thus operating illegally.

Lim said those establishments that do not have the necessary permits will have to be closed down although they will be given up to the middle of August to remove their structures.

The mayor also stood pat on his earlier pronouncements that the existing city ordinance banning drinking in public places will be strictly enforced in the area.