BUSINESS establishments, including malls and restaurants, in Negros Occidental and Bacolod City are "business as usual" during the midterm elections Monday, May 13.
Frank Carbon, chief executive officer of Metro Bacolod Chamber of Commerce and Industry (MBCCI), said elections is one of the best times to catch the people's extra money reserved for entertainment and recreation.
Carbon said that, except for offices, business establishments are open today to cater the influx of customers.
Though opening schedules were adjusted to allow employees to vote. Some of the big malls in the city will open at 12 noon instead of the regular opening hour at 10 a.m.
"After voting, people are expected to go to business establishments to shop and dine given that it's a holiday," he said.
Moreover, trips of fastcraft and roll-on, roll-off (roro) vessels are also normal.
Carbon, who is also the operator of Weesam Express, said there were no cancelation of trips for the elections.
Weesam Express, Ocean Jet and 2Go Travel have a total of 23 departure trips per day which can cater to about 5,000 passengers.
Though, they expect lesser number of passengers from Bacolod to Iloilo and vice versa during the Election Day, Carbon said.
The volume is expected to move up starting Monday afternoon towards the morning of Tuesday May 14, he added.