BACOLOD City Mayor Evelio Leonardia said Thursday, August 30, that by September 1, the downtown area will be cleared of illegal structures.
Leonardia made the announcement after finding out that some of the sidewalk vendors at the downtown area still failed to remove their illegal structures.
He said during his meeting with the sidewalk vendors at the Bacolod Government Center on Tuesday, August 27, two association presidents agreed to voluntary remove their illegal structures.
"It's our target that by September 1, all of them have already transferred to the Bacolod Vendor's Plaza. They agreed so they should remove their illegal structures," he said.
If they will not voluntarily remove their illegal structures, Leonardia said the City Legal Office Enforcement Team will demolish their structures.
The mayor pointed out that the demolition of the illegal structures is in compliance with the directive of President Rodrigo Duterte to rid public streets of obstructions to facilitate the orderly use of thoroughfares.
The sidewalk vendors were given deadline to voluntarily remove their illegal structures from August 28 to 31.
The affected vendors are from areas along Araneta, Gonzaga, Gatuslao, Luzuriaga, San Juan, and Bonifacio streets.
Executive Assistant Ernie Pineda, cluster head on markets, earlier said that about 400 sidewalk vendors will be transferred inside the Vendor's Plaza near the Manokan Country.
The vendors were also required to submit their requirements so that they will be included in the final list to avail the space inside the Vendor's Plaza.
The City Government also allotted a budget for the improvement of Vendor's Plaza to accommodate all the affected vendors.
