BACOLOD City – Two stall owners at Manokan Country who refused to accept notices to vacate will still be displaced, according to the City Legal Office (CLO).
The CLO issued notices to 26 stall owners, requiring them to leave their premises by July 5 due to a redevelopment project by SM Prime Holdings Inc. (SPHI).
The redevelopment will take place on the 16,875-square-meter city government property across from SM City Mall.
Despite the refusal of two stall owners to accept the notices, City Legal Officer Romeo Carlos Ting Jr. emphasized that they are still required to vacate.
“Even if they refuse to receive the notices, they still have to leave because the notices were already served,” Ting explained.
The redevelopment affects all vendors at Manokan Country, but SPHI has provided a temporary area for them to continue their business.
The temporary location is in the mall’s parking area, directly in front of Manokan Country, and is being offered free of charge. However, vendors will need to pay for their water and electricity.
The city is allowing the stall owners until July 5 to vacate the area, giving them time to arrange the transfer of their utilities./PN
