BACOLOD City – The long-planned closure of Manokan Country, located in the Reclamation Area of Barangay 12, will proceed today, July 16, following multiple delays.
According to the City Legal Office, this step is part of the area’s redevelopment initiative spearheaded by SM Prime Holdings Inc. (SPHI), which has leased a 16,875 square meter lot from the city government opposite SM City Mall.
City Legal Officer Romeo Carlos Ting Jr. said his team from the City Legal Office had notified Manokan stall owners about the shutdown of their premises as well as part of Fr. M. Ferrero Street.
The city government has also coordinated with the Bacolod City Water District (Baciwa) and the Central Negros Electric Cooperative (Ceneco) to disconnect utilities in the area.
Originally slated for closure on July 5, the action was postponed to July 20 to accommodate a compromise from the Manokan Country Association on July 6.
The compromise, accepted by Mayor Alfredo Abelardo Benitez, allowed 23 stall owners a two-week extension to relocate to a temporary site near SM City Mall. However, with no progress on the transfer, Mayor Benitez has mandated the closure proceed prior to the revised date.
Ting emphasized the urgency of the move as SPHI is set to begin construction fencing, affecting not only the stall areas but also the residences of informal settler families within the redevelopment site.
He noted that further delays were untenable as stall owners had not initiated their agreed relocation.
To ensure order during the closure, the Bacolod City Police Office (BCPO) has deployed additional personnel to the site./PN
