A BUSINESS leader sees an increase of sales of up to 30 percent of business establishments at downtown Bacolod with the abolition of sidewalk vendors.
Metro Bacolod Chamber of Commerce and Industry (MBCCI) head Frank Carbon made the projection as he lauded the efforts of local government officials in Bacolod City and Negros Occidental for their recent clearing operations along major thoroughfares and sidewalks.
Carbon said, they have been asking for it for a long time.
Carbon gave an example wherein some market stalls only get a limited number of customers because of their inaccessibility.
He even recalled some incidents wherein stall owners in the downtown area would even become aggressive to passersby if they accidentally bump their stalls.
Carbon said establishment owners could likely see an improvement in sales by up to 20 to 30 percent because they will now be able to show their product displays more clearly to the public.
Clearing operations of illegal structures and obstructions were prompted after President Rodrigo Duterte, in his most recent State of the Nation Address, called on “all concerned local officials” to “undertake immediate action to ensure the speedy and smooth flow of vehicular traffic.”
Clearing operations at downtown Bacolod was done by the city government until August 31.
Bacolod City Mayor Evelio Leonardia said the follow-up meeting is being held as a means of ensuring all auditing and reporting are complete and accurate.
“We want to ensure a comprehensive compliance for our report to the DILG and Malacañang Palace,” he said.