SOME officials of the vendors' associations in Bacolod City apologized Friday, January 4, to their fellow Bacolodnons after they occupied portions of the roads at the downtown area during the holidays.
This, after some netizens criticized them on social media for allegedly causing traffic during the holiday rush.
Corazon Tabaquerao, president of Luzuriaga, Gatuslao, Gonzaga, Araneta Brotherhood Vendors Association, said: “we admitted that we extended our stalls or we occupied a portion of roads because we want to dispose our fruits until December 31, but now we will go back and follow the ‘one meter by one meter space.’”
Victoria Amolato, president of Bacolod Downtown Vendors Association, said they violated the rules because of the bad weather and “we are obliged to dispose our fruits. We’re very sorry if we caused traffic and inconvenience to the people of Bacolod from December 23 to 31.”
Amolato added they also observed that there were several transient vendors from various areas.
Marleta Ongada, president of Luzuriaga, Bonifacio Fish Vendors Association, said it’s not their intention to extend their stalls, but because of the bad weather, they were forced to do so to dispose their products so they will also have their foods for their families.
“It’s not our intention to occupy the roads, hopefully, the public will also understand our situation. We are asking forgiveness on that,” she said.
Romel Real and Danilo Camacho, officials of Amelia Mercedes Vendors Association, said they caused traffic in various areas, but they assured the public it will not happen again.
They also promised to clean their areas and avoid throwing their garbage.
The vendors’ officials also asked the city officials to regulate the transient vendors at the downtown area during the holidays.