Mayor Greg Gasataya issued special permits May 25 to 42 ambulant vendors operating along the North Capitol Road Lagoon area in Bacolod, recognizing their livelihood while the city intensifies road-clearing measures on major streets.
“We understand that you are simply trying to make ends meet and that this is your way of earning an income,” he told vendors in a meeting at his office at the Bacolod Government Center. “The city is here to encourage and support your business while strictly implementing the existing ordinance regarding ambulant vendors.”
Gasataya emphasized that the administration’s goal is regulation, not relocation, the city said. “We do not want to relocate you because we already have an existing ordinance that allows you to sell. This regulation is beneficial because whenever there is a specific assistance for vendors or program, it will be easier to profile and assist you since you are now legally registered with the city.”
Per the special permits, vendors are only allowed to operate from 6 p.m. to 11 p.m. in the area to avoid obstructing traffic during rush hours. The vending should be a strictly “grab-and-go” setup using carts, and the use of chairs, tables, or permanent structures is prohibited.
For vendors like Ronela Lagahit, 37, the permit marks the end of decades of uncertainty while selling fresh fruit juice coolers along Aguinaldo Street near the North Capitol Road.
“In my more than 20 years as an ambulant vendor in that area with my mother, this is the first time we were given a special permit to officially sell. We finally have the assurance that our livelihood is legal,” Lagahit said in a city press release.
“We will no longer live in fear of being cleared, or having our carts confiscated. I thank the mayor for this opportunity. After all the administrations that have passed, it is only under his leadership that we were given this attention and our businesses were legalized,” she added.
Johnny Vasquez, 64, also expressed gratitude that the city recognized the sacrifices that vendors make to provide for their families.
The permits, processed through the Business Permits and Licensing Office, with assistance from the City Administrator’s Office, were distributed by Gasataya during the dialogue at his office.
The mayor also approved weekly flushing operations to ensure cleanliness in the area, as well as coordination with the Bacolod Traffic and Transport Management Department to address parking issues that frequently block vendors’ carts. He also promised the installation of temporary solar lights to illuminate darker portions of the road.
City Administrator Atty. Mark Steven Mayo, meanwhile, stressed the need to clear non-designated vending zones, such as Aguinaldo Street, to ensure smooth traffic flow. The enforcement is part of City Ordinance 1009, which seeks to regulate street vending while balancing the interests of small business owners and the commuting public.
“Before we cleared the areas, Mayor Gasataya instructed us to meet with the vendors and come up with a win-win solution,” Mayo explained.
The issuance of special permits highlights the Gasataya administration’s commitment to a balanced approach to city management — clearing roads for motorists during peak hours while securing a legal and sustainable space for Bacolod vendors. ||
