TWO vendors associations in Bacolod City sought the assistance of the city government to allow the conduct of the Vendors Lenten Summer Bazaar 2021 at the sidewalk parking areas surrounding the Bacolod public plaza from March 27 to May 30, 2021.
This was stressed by Executive Assistant Ernesto Pineda, cluster head on markets, on Monday, March 8, 2021, after the officials of Bacolod Downtown Vendors Association (Bacodva) and Bacolod Gatuslao Vendors Association (BGVA) sent their letter to Mayor Evelio Leonardia on March 3 to allow them to sell in said area.
Pineda said he is now preparing the concept on the request of the vendor officials and it will be endorsed to the City Mayor’s Office.
In a letter sent to Leonardia signed by Marites Lee, president of BGVA, and Ma. Myrna Fe Decolongon, president of Bacodva, it said they are proposing a Vendors Lenten Summer Bazaar 2021, with the theme “ Bangon Bacolodnon gikan sa pag-antos sa panahon sang “tiempo Muertos” nga dala sang Covid-19 pandemia.”
“Our people, especially the poor and marginalized sector, suffers most because of the ill effects of the Covid-19 pandemic to the life and livelihood of the people. Needless to say, that we, the vendors, are among the most affected by this health crisis and the recent implementation of the road clearing operations,” they said.
The vendor officials were requesting the city to allow them to use the sidewalk parking areas surrounding the plaza. This includes the San Juan Street, Gonzaga Street and portion of Gatuslao Street.
“We believe that through this Vendors Lenten Summer Bazaar, the city can provide opportunities for the less privileged vendors and the marginalized sectors to display their local product or sell their wares. At the same time, it can also provide convenience to the general consuming public,” the vendor officials said.
Pineda said he will submit the plans to the City Mayor’s Office to ensure the strict compliance of health protocols and rules and regulations set by the Inter-Agency Task Force (IATF) and Emergency Operations Center-Task Force.
He said the vendors should observe two meters distancing between canopies or kiosks prescribed space, hand sanitizing, social distancing and proper wearing of face shields and face masks.
“The mandate of the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) No. 2019-2013 must be observed,” he added.