THE City Government of Bacolod urged the displaced sidewalk vendors to occupy their space at the Bacolod Vendor’s Plaza this MassKara Festival.
City Administrator John Orola said Monday, October 7, that all displaced sidewalk vendors from the downtown area and Central Public Market should occupy their space inside the Vendor’s Plaza.
Last week, Orola, along with other city officials, held a meeting with the affected vendors at the Bacolod Government Center.
“They were reminded that this MassKara Festival, they should occupy their space inside the Vendor’s Plaza or else it will be given to other vendors who are interested to do business in the area,” he said.
The city official said the City Government already installed comfort rooms, the connection of water supply, fences, and lighting facilities, among others.
“We provided what they had asked from us, so they should occupy their space now and we will continue the improvement inside the Vendor’s Plaza,” he added.
Orola noted that the local market committee will also hold a meeting this week to discuss the final ultimatum for the erring vendors.
Last month, hundreds of sidewalk vendors voluntarily removed their illegal structures at the downtown area and Central Public Market. All of them were transferred inside the Vendor’s Plaza.
The demolition of illegal structures is in pursuant to Memorandum Circular 2019-121 of the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG), directing local government officials to implement the clearing of roads.
Some of the vendors failed to occupy their space at the Vendors Plaza because they were allegedly not earning due to their poor situation in the area.
Marites Lee, president of Bacolod Gatuslao Vendors Association (BGVA), earlier said that it is hard for them to sell their products at the Vendors Plaza because there were no customers in the area.
“Since we transferred here, we’re not earning because of our poor situation here. We do not have comfort room (CR) and water here. If you want to use CR, you need to pay P5 to the resident in Barangay 10,” she said.
She added most of the BGVA members were already in the area because the city government also warned them that if they will not occupy their space, it will be provided to other vendors.