• CHERYL G. CRUZ
The Bacolod Local Market Committee (LMC) has been tasked by the Sangguniang Panlungsod to come up with a consolidated report and recommendation on various requests from vendors to sell goods at Araneta Street and surrounding areas this Christmas season.
The SP decided to endorse to the City Mayor’s Office, through the LMC, several requests from vendors’ groups, either to set up a night market, ukay-ukay, sell fruits and flowers, and dry goods, along Araneta Street, Gatuslao Street, public plaza, and near Central and Burgos markets, among others, this month and even up to the first week of January.
Councilor Celia Matea Flor, chairperson of the SP Committee on Markets, told her colleagues that it would be better for all these requests to be endorsed to the LMC for a consolidated report and recommendation.
Among the requests came from the Micro Bacolod Vendors Organization, that seeks to set up a night market until Jan. 5, and an ukay-ukay on Jan. 1, both along Araneta and Gatuslao streets; the Bacolod Negros Dry Goods Association, seeking for the extension of their bazaar and dry goods display fronting the San Sebastian Cathedral; the Bacolod Alliance of Small Entrepreneurs, asking for the continued trade at Hernaez Street; and the Association of Cart Vendors, to continue selling along the side streets of Hernaez-Araneta streets during schooldays, among others.
Flor said the LMC should take into account the overlapping of areas where vendors would want to sell their goods, and the vehicular and foot traffic congestion likely to ensue.
The Bacolod City government has been conducting crackdowns on illegal vending, especially surrounding the public plaza and areas of convergence. | CGC
