BACOLOD City – Councilor Celia Flor issued a public apology for the current state of the Bacolod Public Plaza. This follows the onset of ready-to-wear (RTW) and ukay-ukay vendors selling their items in the area.
Flor, who chairs the Sangguniang Panlungsod (SP) committee on markets, referenced a previously passed SP resolution.
This resolution approved a request from the Diocese of Bacolod allowing vendors to sell RTW items along San Juan Street. This part of the public plaza requested by the diocese is owned by the church.
Following this, another group of vendors selling RTW and ukay-ukay items also sought permission to trade along Gatuslao, San Juan, and Gonzaga streets, which are adjacent to the plaza, especially during the holiday season.
Flor expressed her apologies for the plaza’s appearance, noting the lack of alternative spaces for the vendors.
“We ask for the public’s patience. There is simply no other place for them,” said Flor.
She also expressed hope for an improvement in the setup, mentioning efforts to standardize vendor stalls.
She further explained that the plaza traditionally serves as a venue for a trade fair during the holiday season, contributing to income generation.
Additionally, the city is exploring alternative locations for fruit vendors displaced from Gatuslao Street, with a focus on prioritizing those who were affected by earlier sidewalk clearings and currently lack a vending space./PN
