FLOWER vendors at the Bacolod City public plaza who were transferred Monday, November 12, to their new home at the back of the Bacolod Arts and Youth Sports (Bays) Center asked the City Government to award to them their new stalls.
The blessing and soft-opening of the new location Monday were attended by Executive Assistant Ernie Pineda and Department of Social Services and Development (DSSD) head Pacita Tero.
The stalls were constructed by the City Engineer’s Office (CEO) for the 18 flower vendors and they were offered for free.
Glen Amar, president of Bacolod City Flower Vendors Association (BCFVA), said they are happy and thankful to the City Government for helping them continue their business in the new site.
The BCFVA, composed of 18 flower vendors at the public plaza, is occupying the public plaza for almost 40 years.
The members of the association are giving donations to the Bacolod Diocese, which owns the portion of public plaza occupied by the vendors, at P50 per day.
Amar said they voluntarily removed their stalls on November 11 at the public plaza and transferred it to the new site.
“At first, we are hesitant to transfer because we do not have a clear position on the identified location, but now we are okay on this development and we are asking the City Government if they could award these units to our members so we can process a business permit and a receipt from the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR),” he said.
He said they helped develop their new stalls and they are also asking the city officials if they could provide them a canopy to shade their flowers from the sun.
The City Council earlier approved a resolution requesting Mayor Evelio Leonardia through the City Legal Office-Enforcement Team to implement the relocation of flower vendors.
The resolution, authored by Councilor Em Ang, stated that there is a need to relocate the flower vendors in order to allow the full implementation of the rehabilitation, improvement, and beautification of the public plaza pursuant to the plans designed by the CEO.
Pineda, head of the market coordinating and monitoring task force, said the flower vendors are very cooperative and they are willing to secure for their water and power connections.
“We will help them address their concern to improve their situation in the area including a financial assistance,” he said.
He said the flower vendors already informed their customers that they will transfer at the back of the Bays Center.
The DSSD will also assist the flower vendors through livelihood program or financial assistance.
Tero said she will coordinate with Pineda to determine the legitimate occupants in the area.
“We will assist them so they can get a financial assistance amounting of P5,000,” she added.