BACOLOD City Mayor Evelio Leonardia has issued an executive order creating a special committee to address the matter concerning the stall owners at the Pala-Pala Market in the city.
The executive order No. 16 was signed on May 10, 2018.
Leonardia said there is an urgent need to address this matter as it affects the daily subsistence and needs of the families of the affected stall owners.
Vice Mayor El Cid Familiaran, who was tasked as chairperson of the special committee, said yesterday, May 21, the stall owners of the Pala-Pala Market sought the assistance of the City on May 2 and 3.
He said the stall owners presented that the provincial government had directed them to vacate their stalls along San Juan Street by May 15 to give way to the construction of the Negros First Food Terminal Market.
He added the affected stall owners are requesting the city that they will be allowed to relocate their business on a temporary basis to a suitable area and for any assistance, the city may render.
Familiaran said he already called a meeting last week with the vendors and the representatives of the Provincial Government.
He said there was a proposal to temporarily use the area along North Capitol Road, but the lot owner refused to use the area so they will be referred to another area.
For his part, Ernesto Pineda, executive assistant at the City Mayor's Office, said the Pala-Pala Market has a total of 33 vendors and it was decided to transfer them to the San Juan Street, fronting the Pala-Pala Market.
"We are now finalizing the area to accommodate all the affected vendors, who are all BacoleƱos, so they can start the construction of their temporary store or eatery along San Juan Street," he said.