THE City Government of Bacolod has asked for the legal opinion of the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) if it can allow the vendors to sell at the downtown area and Bacolod Public Plaza from December 1 to 31.
City Legal Officer Joselito Bayatan said they already sent their letter to the DILG Monday, November 25.
"We wrote to the DILG legal office for their opinion. Because if there's fiesta or Christmas, by tradition public places are normally offered to the public for use but for a temporary basis," he said.
The vendors associations in Bacolod City earlier appealed to city officials to allow them to sell at the downtown area and the Bacolod public plaza from December 1 to 31.
Victoria Amolato, president of the Bacolod Downtown Vendors Association (Bacodva), said they are asking Mayor Evelio Leonardia to allow them to sell in the areas of Gonzaga, Gatuslao, Luzuriaga, Araneta and Bonifacio Streets from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. on the said dates.
"In the spirit of Christmas, we are hopeful that the city officials will allow us so we can support our families," Amolato said.
If the city will approve their request, she said they will follow their regulations, including the cleanliness and peace and order in the said areas.
Luggar Vendors president Cora Tabaquerrao and Plaza Fruit Vendor president Norayda Senoro also asked the city to allow them to occupy one-meter by one-meter at the downtown area and a portion of the public plaza.
They said the officers of the association will impose a strict regulation and responsibility for the members to follow the guidelines.
In August, hundreds of vendors at the downtown area voluntarily removed their illegal structures in compliance with President Rodrigo Duterte's directive to rid public streets of obstructions to facilitate the orderly use of thoroughfares.
The affected vendors were transferred to the Bacolod Vendors Plaza near the Manokan Country.
Meanwhile, Bayatan said the City Legal Office enforcement team was also deployed to various areas in Bacolod to ensure that vendors will not return at the downtown area as well as in the three big public markets.
"It's always our appeal to the barangay officials that they are really the vanguard. They should monitor their areas of jurisdiction to ensure that there will be no illegal structures in their area," he said.