Bacolod to prioritize displaced vendors at public plaza

THE City Government of Bacolod will prioritize the displaced sidewalk vendors to occupy stalls for the “Paskwa sa Plaza” at the Bacolod public plaza.

Executive Assistant Ernesto Pineda, chief coordinator Market Coordinating and Monitoring Task Force, said yesterday that they already received the application of some of the vendors who want to sell at the Bacolod public plaza from December 3 to January 6, 2020.

He said they can accommodate more than 260 vendors who can sell their products in the areas of Gonzaga, Gatuslao, and San Juan streets and the back portion of the public plaza’s bandstand.

“All of them will be given a chance to sell at the public plaza this Christmas season,” he added.

Mayor Evelio Leonardia earlier issued an executive order (EO) establishing the “Paskwa sa Plaza” at the Bacolod public plaza and its surrounding parking areas for the duration of the Christmas season from December 3 to January 6, 2020, and creating a committee to recommend guidelines and oversee its smooth and orderly operations.

Leonardia said the parking areas at the Bacolod public plaza are not utilized as public streets or roads and may be used temporarily for the Christmas activity and its purposes.

The activities for the Bacolod Paskwa sa Plaza shall include Christmas presentations or entertainment, as well as the display and selling thereat of local products and wares of the marginalized vendors, and the conduct of other activities as may be recommended by the committee.

“The annual celebration of Christmas not only reminds us of the birth of Jesus Christ and God’s love for mankind, but also to be mindful of our role in keeping the Christmas spirit alive not only in our hearts but also in deeds. We recognize the need for a common place where people and their families can get together and enjoy themselves during the Christmas season as well as to provide opportunities for the less-privileged vendors to display local products or sell their wares, at the same time providing convenience to the general consuming public,” Leonardia said.