By MERLINDA A. PEDROSA

The Bacolod City government will not remove ambulant vendors doing business along North Capitol Road as the locality continues to implement the ordinance that allows them to sell.

“Their operations should comply with the conditions set forth in the vending ordinance,” City Administrator Mark Steven Mayo said yesterday.

Mayo added that vendors who fail to secure permits are not allowed to operate in the area, including those selling ready-to-wear products.

Vendors selling non-food products are not permitted to conduct business along North Capitol Road.

“Based on our records, we have not issued any special permits to vendors selling ready-to-wear products in the area,” he said.

Mayo said they conducted an orientation for at least 42 ambulant vendors at the Bacolod City Government Center yesterday, focusing on cleanliness and other regulations.

Earlier, the Negros Occidental Provincial Legal Office (PLO) requested the city government to relocate sidewalk vendors operating along North Capitol Road, citing traffic obstruction, sanitation problems and security concerns.

PLO head Roberto Nellas, Jr. said the office had received reports and complaints that vendors were obstructing sidewalks, with some activities spilling onto public roads and contributing to traffic congestion.

He also cited concerns that accumulated litter and waste from vending activities had affected the area’s cleanliness and increased maintenance challenges.

Meanwhile, Mayo said a flushing team was deployed to maintain cleanliness along North Capitol Road upon the instruction of Mayor Greg Gasataya.

“We will continue regulating the area, particularly in terms of sanitation, traffic management and other concerns related to public safety,” he said.

He added that ambulant vendors are allowed to operate only from 6:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m./MAP, WDJ