BACOLOD City Vice Mayor Elcid Familiaran said Friday, September 9, the presence of fish vendors on Ballesteros Street is only temporary amid criticisms from the stakeholders in the area and the public.
He added that the vendors will occupy the area while the Central Market is under renovation.
The fish vendors were previously occupying Bonifacio Street, but they were scattered outside the Central Market the reason they were all moved to Ballesteros Street, the vice mayor said.
He added that although the vendors were appealing to go back to Bonifacio Street beside the Central Market, the city will not allow them because of the heavy traffic at the area.
Familiaran said they welcome the complaint of Gaisano Department Store regarding the presence of the fish vendors, but he noted that the occupied area is adjacent only to the establishment’s back entrance.
“I don’t know when the renovation of the Central Market will be completed but be assured that the vendors are only temporary in Ballesteros,” he added.
For his part, City Administrator John Orola yesterday assured the management of Gaisano Department Store that the presence of fish vendors is only a temporary.
“They were transferred to Ballesteros Street because of the ongoing repair of Central Market,” he said.
Orola added that they are repairing the comfort rooms and the stall sections inside the market.
On September 6, the Gaisano Department Store sent a letter to the City Government, questioning presence of the fish vendors.
Orola said the concern of the establishment is their parking area on Ballesteros Street.
Councilor Sonya Verdeflor had earlier expressed her opposition to the presence of fish vendors on Ballesteros Street.
Verdeflor said that most of the fish vendors are residents of Talisay City, and they are not paying taxes and garbage fees in Bacolod.
She added that no resolution was submitted to the City Council to close the Ballesteros Street and to reroute the public utility jeepneys passing in the area.
Orola admitted that some of the fish vendors were transient with no permanent stalls in Central Market, but he said they will regulate them.
He added that they will also investigate if the fish vendors are paying the “arkabala” or excise duty in Central Market.
Orola said that anytime this year, the City Government will start the repair of Vendors Plaza to accommodate the fish vendors.
“We are planning to make it a colorful market with beautiful sanitation, and to put up a terminal in the area," he said.
Orola said he is hopeful that the project will materialized before the MassKara Festival.
City Legal Officer Joselito Bayatan said the transfer of the fish vendors to Ballesteros Street is only a matter of regulation.
“For the government to exercise the regulatory power, there goes the exercise of police power," he said.
Bayatan pointed out that since the mayor was exercising the regulatory power, there is no need for a resolution to use the Ballesteros Street.
He added that the statement of Verdeflor is “anti-vendors.”
“If she can help us regulate this further, she is always welcome to join the planning committee of the city,” Bayatan said.