ABOUT 380 market vendors at Libertad Public Market in Bacolod will voluntarily remove their stalls Wednesday, August 14, in compliance with the directive of President Rodrigo Duterte to rid public streets of obstructions to facilitate the orderly use of thoroughfares.
Mayor Evelio Leonardia, who led the dialogue with the Libertad Public Market vendors Tuesday, August 13, at the Bacolod Government Center, said the affected vendors will be transferred inside the Libertad Annex Building.
He said the two-story Libertad Annex Building, which was constructed during his first term as mayor of Bacolod, can accommodate the affected vendors and the city will also improve the building.
He added the city will put escalator and pulley for the convenience of the vendors as well as for the market goers.
The mayor noted that hundreds of vendors from Daniel Ramos Street were already transferred inside the Burgos Public Market and 95 vendors from Ballesteros Street were also transferred inside the Central Public Market last week.
“This is something happening in our city that has never been seen before and it is a multi-sectoral approach which need the cooperation of the barangay officials, market vendors and the general public,” Leonardia said.
He said the dividers inside the public markets were also removed so that all the vendors will be accommodated to display their products.
Leonardia added that this is in pursuant to Memorandum Circular No. 2019-121 dated July 29, 2019 of the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) directing the local government officials, from the mayors down to barangay captains, to implement the clearing of roads.
Allyn Luv Zamora-Dignadice, Market Supervisor IV, said the original lists of the affected vendors at Libertad Public Market are only 235, but now it reached to 380.
She said the vendors will voluntarily remove their stalls starting today until August 16.
She added the affected vendors were also required to submit requirements so they will be transferred inside the Annex Building.
Meanwhile, the city government is also planning to implement the Night Market Ordinance in the city.
Leonardia said this is one of the options to accommodate some of the vendors who might be affected of the demolition.
The affected vendors are from Burgos Public Market with the total of 197 vendors; Central Public Market- 95 vendors; Libertad Public Market, and 368 sidewalk vendors.
The city will also hold a dialogue with the sidewalk vendors on August 27 to transfer them inside the Vendor’s Plaza.
Leonardia along with Vice Mayor El Cid Familiaran and the city councilors are asking the support and cooperation of the public to patronize and prioritize the products of the city’s market vendors.