• CHERYL G. CRUZ
Father M. Ferrero Street, from corner Rizal Street to Burgos Street, is temporarily closed to vehicular traffic until Feb. 14 “to give way for the clearing and demolition operation…and to remove the remaining informal settlers in the area to be affected by the project of Bacolod City and SM Prime Holdings Inc.”
The temporary road closure, as approved by the Sangguniang Panlungsod Jan. 30, covers areas within Manokan Country, Vendors Plaza, Jeepney Terminal, Beerhausen Restobar, and Twilight Diner.
“This measure aims to ensure public safety during the clearing and demolition operation,” City Legal Officer, Atty. Karol Joseph Chiu, said in his Jan. 27 letter-request to Mayor Alfredo Benitez that was forwarded to the SP for appropriate action.
Chiu said the CLO, through the Integrated City Enforcement Team, intends to conduct a clearing and demolition operation for two weeks “to remove the remaining informal settlers in the area to be affected by the (SM) project”.
The city said the Manokan Country’s temporary location at SM City Bacolod, just across the street from its original site, has also started operations Thursday.
Chiu said the tenants were cooperative and look forward to doing business at the temporary location, while the Manokan Country undergoes improvement.
The city government has partnered with SM Prime for the Manokan Country Redevelopment Project that is seen to provide an “enhanced dining experience, transforming the area into an iconic tourist destination”.
The initial project design “pays homage to the existing outdoor hawker stalls that sell chicken inasal, as well as classic Filipino street food, and features a striking exterior that combines modern industrial and vernacular Filipino architecture,” as per SM Prime’s earlier statement. | CGC
