THE arrears due to non-payment of rentals at the three major markets in Bacolod City reached more or less P30 million, City Administrator lawyer Pacifico Maghari III said Friday, August 5, 2022.
Of the amount, P20 million is from the Libertad South Public Market, P11 million from the Burgos North Public Market and the rest of the arears is from the Central market, Maghari said.
To thresh out the issues on arrears, Bacolod City Mayor Alfredo Abelardo “Albee” Benitez will hold a dialogue with the market vendors at the Bacolod Government Center (BGC) Saturday, August 6, 2022 that they expect that the vendors from the three major markets in the city will attend the dialogue Councilor Celia Flor, chairperson of the City Council committee on markets will also be there, Maghari said, adding that they will discuss the mode of payments of the arrears.
He said that they are now validating the lists of the delinquent stall owners from the City Treasurer’s Office.
“One of the considerations (is that) we can give them an amnesty so they can update their rental payments,” the lawyer said.
Under the scheme, erring stall renters will be given a certain period so they can pay their arrears and can continue operating their business.
Those who are not interested or willing to pay their arrears will be removed or they will be charged, Maghari warned.
“Non-paying of their rentals is disadvantageous to the city because we are also paying big monthly electrical bills,” he stressed.
Aside from the three major public markets, Maghari disclosed that they will also review the rental charges at the Manokan Country.
The City Legal Office will also conduct an ocular inspection at the public markets to ensure that the stall owners are doing their business within their stalls.