BACOLOD City Vice Mayor El Cid Familiaran expressed his support on the proposal of Executive Assistant Ernie Pineda to implement a night bazaar to provide an avenue for displaced market vendors in the city.
Familiaran on Thursday, February 18, 2021, said in previous months, he already reminded Pineda to look for a place to accommodate displaced market vendors in various areas in the city.
“We already planned this so that our vendors can continue their livelihood because if they will display their products beside the roads or at the downtown area, they will also be arrested since it's illegal,” he said.
He added the only option to accommodate them was that they will open the night market even in the area of Libertad Public Market, but it should be organized and should observe the health protocols.
Familiaran said to provide them a livelihood, they should be placed in a legal area to avoid being arrested.
Pineda, cluster head on markets, earlier said he will submit a proposal to the City Mayor's Office to allow affected vendors from Libertad Public Market to display their products from 6 p.m. to 6 a.m. and 6 p.m. to midnight for the vendors at the downtown areas.
This was after more than 100 vendors from Libertad Public Market and the downtown area in Bacolod City, who were affected by the road clearing operation, sought the assistance of the City Government to give them an alternative solution.
Familiaran said the city will only implement Ordinance 08-14-666 or the Night Market Ordinance of the City of Bacolod.
In 2014, the City Council approved an ordinance creating policies and guidelines in the establishment and regulation of the night market in Bacolod City.
“We have the guidelines for the implementation, so Pineda should find a place for the displaced vendors that will not affect the traffic, then it will be submitted to the mayor for the approval,” Familiaran said.
Dr. Chris Sorongon, deputy for medical data and analysis of Emergency Operations Center-Task Force, earlier said the night bazaar should be done with responsibility.
"For me, I will not push for it, but on the other side, we will try to listen first to how it will be conducted," Sorongon said.
He said the night bazaar should have a layout plan, good kiosks layout, the application of the Bacolod City Covid-19 Tracing System and should observe minimum health protocols to prevent the spread of the coronavirus.