BACOLOD City – Manokan Country Vendors Association president David Montoya is hopeful that no stalls at the Manokan Country would be closed today.
Mayor Alfredo Abelardo Benitez previously said the City Legal Office (CLO) will implement this Oct. 3 the closure orders issued against stalls whose tenants have failed to settle their financial obligations with the city government.
“Final notices” were served by the CLO on Aug. 26, 2022 to 17 Manokan Country stall owners after giving them until Sept. 30 to secure their business permits, settle their arrears with the City Treasurer’s Office (CTO), and keep their monthly rentals up-to-date.
“Failure to comply will result in the closure of the business,” read part of the final notice.
Montoya, however, is confident that none of them will close; they have settled their accounts with CTO already, he stressed.
They signed a compromise agreement at the CTO after making initial payments of 20 percent of their accounts; some even paid in full, said Montoya.
The Manokan Country Vendors Association thanked Councilor Celia Flor, chair of the Sangguniang Panlungsod’s committee on markets for helping them lobby with Benitez to give them a chance to settle their financial obligations until Dec. 31, 2022, on a staggered basis.
Montoya said they are happy to continue their business, especially now that the city is celebrating the MassKara Festival (Oct. 1 to 23).
Manokan Country is located across SM City Bacolod at the Reclamation Area./PN
