• CHERYL G. CRUZ
Bacolod Mayor Alfredo Benitez said the closure of stalls at Manokan Country will be enforced starting tomorrow, July 16, as he noted that the tenants seemed not interested in transferring to the nearby temporary facility at the terminal hub of SM.
The city earlier granted an extension of up to next week so that tenants could process their water and electricity connections at the temporary facility, where they could continue operations rent-free while the redevelopment of the iconic Manokan Country “into a future-ready tourist destination” is ongoing.
“Obviously daw wala man sila gana magsunod sang compromise agreement… so the city will enforce the closure of Manokan,” Benitez said in a press conference at his office July 15.
The temporary closure of Father M. Ferrero Street, from corner of Rizal Street up to the corner of Burgos Street, will also start July 16, to pave the way for the clearing of structures within the Manokan Country, Vendors Plaza, and jeepney terminal.
The Bacolod government has a 40-year lease contract with SM Prime Holdings Inc. to develop the city’s properties near the mall, including the Manokan Country, all with an aggregate area of 16,875 square meters, or 1.68 hectares.
The city had received the P131 million in advance rental from SM Prime Oct. 20 last year during the contract signing. | CGC
