By CESAR JOLITO III
Bacolod City Mayor Greg Gasataya has granted special permits to 42 ambulant vendors operating along North Capitol Road, popularly known as the lagoon area, in a move aimed at balancing livelihood protection with the city’s intensified road-clearing operations.
The permits, processed through the Business Permits and Licensing Office with assistance from the City Administrator’s Office, were personally distributed by Gasataya during a dialogue with vendors at the City Mayor’s Office.
For many vendors, the issuance marked a historic first.
Ronela Lagahit, 37 years old, who has been selling fresh fruit juice coolers along Aguinaldo Street near North Capitol Road for over two decades with her mother, said the permit finally gave them security and recognition from the city government.
Lagahit said vendors had long lived with the fear of being removed from the area or having their carts confiscated during clearing operations, adding that it was only under the current administration that their livelihood had been formally recognized and legalized.
Another vendor, 64-year-old Johnny Vasquez, also welcomed the move, saying the city acknowledged the sacrifices ambulant vendors make to support their families.
Gasataya clarified that the city’s goal is regulation rather than relocation, stressing that existing ordinances already allow ambulant vending under specific conditions.
The mayor said the city wants to support small vendors while strictly implementing regulations, noting that formal registration would also make it easier for the government to provide assistance and include vendors in future programs.
Alongside the permits, the mayor approved weekly road flushing operations to maintain cleanliness in the area and directed coordination with the Bacolod Traffic and Transport Management Department to address parking concerns that often block vending carts.
Temporary solar lights are also set to be installed in darker portions of the road.
City Administrator Mark Steven Mayo said clearing operations in non-designated vending zones, particularly along Aguinaldo Street, remain necessary to improve traffic flow and ensure public safety.
The enforcement forms part of City Ordinance No. 1009, which regulates street vending while balancing the interests of small business owners and motorists.
Under the special permit guidelines, vendors are only allowed to operate from 6:00 p.m. to 11:00 p.m. to prevent traffic obstruction during peak hours.
Vendors must also maintain a “grab-and-go” setup using only movable carts, while chairs, tables and permanent structures remain prohibited.
Mayo said the mayor had instructed city officials to first consult vendors before implementing clearing operations in order to come up with a “win-win solution.”
The issuance of the permits reflects the city government’s effort to combine strict road-clearing enforcement with support for informal workers seeking legal and sustainable means of livelihood in Bacolod./CJ, WDJ