BACOLOD City – Stall owners at the Manokan Country in the Reclamation Area here have two options only — pay or let the city government padlock their stalls.
The final notice served by the City Legal Office (CLO) to 17 Manokan Country stall owners gave them until today, Sept. 30, to secure their business permits, settle their arrears with the City Treasurer’s Office (CTO) and keep their monthly rental up to date.
“Failure to comply will result in the closure of their businesses,” read part of the notice.
City administrator Pacifico Maghari III said the Local Market Committee held a meeting and the CLO informed them that they will enforce the final notice on Oct. 1.
Since there is no extension given, the remedy is to padlock the stalls, he added.
As of Sept. 23, Maghari said, of the 17 stall owners, two already settled their accounts in full, with arrears of about P500,000 and P198,000, respectively.
The city administrator advised stall owners to visit the CTO and make a compromise agreement.
The City Mayor’s Office authorized the CTO to accept staggered payments.
“Sa may mga balances pa, maghimo sang arrangement sa CTO kay may pilirmahan man lang nga compromise [agreement] nga maka-down sang certain amount nga at least 20 percent sa ng arrears,” Maghari said.
The balance can be paid on a staggered basis until Dec. 31, 2022.
The total arrears of Manokan Country stall owners as of June 2022 had reached P8.6 million.
Maghari said the monthly rental rate per stall is P2,250.
Because of the failure of the occupants therein to pay their monthly obligations in the city, their arrears ballooned to millions. The penalties, interests and surcharges accumulated for over a decade./PN
