BACOLOD City Mayor Alfredo Abelardo Benitez on Thursday, August 11, 202, asked all the tenants of the Manokan Country at the Reclamation Area to update their accounts

This after it was discovered that as of June 2022, the delinquent rentals of at least 17 tenants at the Manokan Country reached P8.6 million.

Benitez said that it is already a low concession rate given to the tenants of the Manokan Country.

“Nowhere in the City of Bacolod will you be able to get that kind of rate, so at least pay up,” he said.

Manokan Country, a row of restaurants selling grilled foods especially the famous Bacolod chicken barbecue, is situated on a city-owned property at the Reclamation Area right across the SM City Bacolod Northwing.

Meanwhile, Benitez said he also received a public-private partnership (PPP) proposal from the SM Prime for the development of Manokan Country.

“As far as I’m concerned, the Manokan Country should have its place in Bacolod. It will always be here. It is already a tourist attraction and it’s part of our culture so we will make sure that this will be preserved,” he said.

He added that as long as they can reconcile the desire of the City to preserve the establishment and work with a PPP proponent for the possible upgrade of the facilities, then they will consider it.

The mayor noted that aside from the Manokan Country, they also received PPP proposals for the traffic enforcement system and waste management in Bacolod.