BACOLOD City – Dry goods vendors are no longer allowed to sell their items in this city’s public plaza beginning next year.
Mayor Alfredo Abelardo Benitez ordered this after complaints about the makeshift stalls of ready-to-wear and ukay-ukay, among others, that mushroomed in the area being an “eyesore.”
“I will discuss this with the city council; we will not allow any more selling in the said area. This will be the last time the city gives the vendors permission,” the mayor stressed.
Councilor Celia Flor, chair of the Sangguniang Panlungsod (SP) committee on markets, said vendors were only allowed since it is the holiday season.
The SP previously passed a resolution approving a request from the Diocese of Bacolod allowing vendors to hold a trade fair along Rizal Street. This part of the public plaza requested by the diocese is owned by the church.
Benitez is set to discuss the city’s plans for the plaza with the diocese, which requested a trade fair to raise funds for retired priests.
“We will find a way to help [the church] without relying on the vendors; we have to talk to them,” the mayor added.
On the other hand, the city had already endorsed to the Department of Tourism the proposal to rehabilitate the public plaza for P80 million and the Bacolod City Government Center fountain area for P220 million.
Since a portion of the plaza is owned by the church, Benitez said this will also be part of his discussion with the diocese.
“I doubt nga mangindi pa ni sila [the church], kay this is a beautification project for the plaza,” the Benitez said./PN
