Vendors earlier permitted to sell during Christmas
By Dominique Gabriel G. Bañaga

A local association representing vendors selling ready-to-wear apparel were hoping to hold a “Summer Sale” at the Bacolod Public Plaza in April; however, their request was denied by the Bacolod City Sangguniang Panlungsod. In a radio interview with Aksyon Radyo-Bacolod, Bacolod City Vice Mayor El Cid Familiaran, who presides of the local legislative body, said they did not take any action on the request as there is no festival scheduled during that particular time.
The vice mayor went on to call the request “unfair” for sidewalk vendors who were affected by last year’s road-clearing operations. He also revealed they received a request from the Metro Bacolod Retailers Association to sell their wares along the terminal area at the Bacolod Vendors’ Plaza every Monday from 8:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m.
Familiaran said he will leave the decision to the City Legal Office.
Last December, after street vendors across Bacolod City were cleared and relocated to the Bacolod Vendors’ Plaza, along with those situated outside public markets, as part of a nationwide order from President Rodrigo Duterte, 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.
According to City Councilor Renato Novero, who chairs the committee overseeing the program, fruit vendors would be located along the Luzuriaga Street side of the plaza, ready-to-wear goods along Gatuslao Street, and food on sale along San Juan Street.
He went on to say the move was to accommodate vendors affected by the presidential order.
Vendors were permitted to operate until January 6./DGB, WDJ