Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) Chairman Oscar Inocentes has ordered a reorganization of the agency’s Sidewalk Clearing Operations Group (SCOG) following reports that some members of the group act as protectors of illegal sidewalk vendors.

Inocentes declared the reshuffling of SCOG members after receiving information that many of them are actually working against their own agency that pays them their salary by coddling and protecting illegal sidewalk vendors.

“May mga report akong natanggap na may mga backup members na nagbibigay ng protection. They are to be reshuffled,” Inocentes said.

Boy Franco, SCOG chief, said they will conduct an investigation to identify errant members of his group.

Upon assuming his post as head of SCOG late last year, Franco said he has ordered the dismantling of fixed posts or personnel assigned in specific areas.

Counting on their alleged protectors from the MMDA, sidewalk vendors have defied the government and tried to mess up the agency’s operation, Franco said.

This year, Inocentes issued notices to sidewalk vendors and business establishments to vacate the sidewalks and roadways where they have encroached after the temporary moratorium on demolition expired last Dec. 31.

Notices of eviction have been sent to vendors and business establishments in known critical areas, including Balintawak and Commonwealth Avenue in Quezon City, C.M. Recto, Divisoria, Carriedo, and Blumentritt in Manila.

Inocentes has also redeployed anti-illegal vendor operatives throughout Metro Manila to drive away sidewalk vendors.

Meanwhile, another MMDA official got a dressing down from Inocentes for negligence in the performance of his duties.

Before agency employees, Inocentes castigated Engineer Winston Besa, General Services Office (GSO) head, regarding the malfunctioning of two elevators in the MMDA building that has been causing delays in the employees’ workflow and public transactions.

Inocentes said he got annoyed with the long lines of employees waiting in front of just one functioning elevator while two other elevators were non-operating.

The MMDA chief said had already directed Besa to repair the elevators but the latter did not see any positive results, prompting him to castigate Besa in front of agency employees last Monday.

Besa was later transferred to another department.