Leonardia: Police are supposed to be on guard

After Bacolod City Mayor Evelio Leonardia, in response to requests from local vendors associations, issued an executive order allowing vendors to set up at the Bacolod Public Plaza despite street vendors across the city earlier being cleared as part of a nationwide order from President Rodrigo Duterte, he clarified vendors are not permitted to sell along city sidewalks.
While several vendors have since returned to the sidewalks, claiming they were allowed by the city government, the mayor insisted, “We have not done that.”
“The set up supposedly is that the police should be on guard, while we serve a supportive role,” Leonardia explained. “Maybe because of the Christmas season, the mood is different and authorities are making a consideration.”
Meanwhile, Bacolod City sectoral concerns head, Executive Assistant Ernesto Pineda, backed the mayor and stated, “That is why the mayor issued an executive order.”
He added, vendors set up at the public plaza are only allowed to sell their goods, which include food, fruits, and ready-to-wear clothes.
Bacolod City Councilor Renato Novero, who chairs the committee overseeing the program, earlier explained fruit vendors will be located along the Luzuriaga Street side of the plaza, ready-to-wear goods along Gatuslao Street, and foods will be on sale along San Juan Street.
The city official said the program will “give happiness as well as entertainment.”
Novero also affirmed the move was to accommodate for vendors affected by the presidential order./DGB, WDJ