A total of 58 vendors at the so-called “Masa Mart,” located along Bonifacio Street at Bacolod City’s Central Market, were given five-days to vacate following the approval of an order transferring them to the Bacolod Vendors’ Plaza, where displaced vendors from across the city are being accommodated.
According to Acting Mayor El Cid Familiaran notices were served last Wednesday.
“They have only five days to remove their personal belongings—until Saturday,” he stated.
The city official explained, demolition of their original structures will be done by the City Legal Office on Monday, September 23.
Familiaran also reminded “Masa Mart” vendors to pay their monthly obligations and arrears to the city.
Earlier this month, Bacolod City sidewalk vendors were given an ultimatum to relocate to the said venue with Bacolod Vendors’ Plaza market supervisor Jonah Abao previously noting there were around 380 qualified vendors eligible for stalls.
At the time, Abao said the city was in the process of rehabilitating the facility and called on vendors to have patience.
Some vendors had claimed the plaza was without water and toilet facilities but the market supervisor dismissed their complaints.
They also raised concerns as there were reportedly “very few customers” at the Bacolod Vendors’ Plaza./DGB, WDJ