BACOLOD City – “The public plaza should have prestige,”
This was emphasized by Mayor Alfredo Abelardo Benitez during yesterday’s press conference.
The city government will no longer allow commercial activities in the entire Bacolod Public Plaza, following discussions on strict implementation of the ordinances and resolutions during the executive-legislative agenda attended by Benitez in Baguio City last week.
“Ang visibility sang plaza naton dapat indi madula, kay kon magbutang sang vendors indi na makita ang plaza, ang makita na lang ang ginabaligya. We would like to preserve the plaza aside nga patahumon ta ang plaza, indi ta na pag commercialize,” Benitez claimed.
Included in the no-vending implementation is the portion of the plaza along Gatuslao and Rizal streets owned by the Diocese of Bacolod.
Previously, the city granted the church’s requests to hold trade fairs.
“I understand they do this for fund-raising activities for their retired priests. Pangitaan ta other forms of support para indi sila madulaan income,” the mayor added.
To recall, complaints arose about the makeshift stalls of ready-to-wear, ukay-ukay, and fruits, among others, that mushroomed in the area being an “eyesore.”/PN
