THE Bacolod City Administrator’s Office is eyeing the transfer of members of Bacolod Vendors’ Plaza Association to other public markets while the rehabilitation of the Vendors’ Plaza in Barangay 12 is ongoing.
Lawyer Allyn Luv Zamora-Dignadice, administrative officer IV, who led the dialogue with the association members Wednesday, September 20, at the Bacolod Government Center, said the city will find a place for the vendors in the meantime.
Dignadice said they will recognize only 85 to 90 members of the association who are occupying the Vendors’ Plaza.
“The city could transfer them to other public markets like Burgos and Libertad,” she added.
Dignadice said they will finalize the plan on their next meeting with City Administrator John Orola.
The City Government postponed the clearing operation at the Vendors’ Plaza after the association members asked for a dialogue with the city officials.
Association president Julie Ann Atienza said they are thankful that they will be given a place to continue their business.
“We are not saying we will not vacate, we are only asking for a place to continue our business,” she said.
Atienza added they are hopeful that the city will fulfill its commitment to prioritize them once the rehabilitation of the facility is finished.
City Legal Officer Joselito Bayatan said they will enforce the regulation of the Vendors’ Plaza and let the vendors join the bidding to be fair to everybody.
“We have to clear the area and start in a legal way because all of them are illegally occupying the facility,” he said.
Bayatan said the occupants will be given an enough time to vacate and to clear the area.
“We cannot transfer them to the terminal adjacent to the Vendors’ Plaza because it’s still part of the facility,” he added.
Atienza had earlier said they will leave the facility peacefully, if they will be allowed to go back to their original area at the terminal.
She recalled that during the time of former Mayor Monico Puentvella, their stalls were dismantled and they were transferred inside the Vendors’ Plaza. (MAP)
