• THERESA MAE DULMAN
The Bacolod City government plans to offer vacant stalls to street vendors, particularly those operating along Amelia-Mercedes Street, following a clearing operation inside the Libertad Market Annex Building Wednesday.
City administrator, Atty. Mark Steven Mayo, said July 2 that out of the more or less 90 market stalls located on the ground floor of the building, 45 had already been previously awarded to vendors.
The clearing operation was prompted by reports of the Market Committee that mendicants and other individuals had begun occupying the market stalls in the area.
“Part of the objective behind the clearing operation was to allow us to discuss and hold a dialogue with the vendors. If a stall in the Annex Building’s ground floor has already been awarded to them, they should occupy it and continue selling there so they do not cause obstructions on the street,” Mayo said.
He added that the city government will hold a dialogue with the displaced street vendors to formally offer them the remaining vacant stalls.
At least 115 stalls remain vacant on the Annex Building’s second floor because, although a raffle was conducted, the allocations were never formalized and no lease agreements were signed by the city with any prospective occupants.
Mayo said that, per the vendors, the second floor of the building is less accessible with low foot traffic and poor sales, a dilemma that has led some to use their stalls merely as stock storage while they sell outside.
“We are coming up with a plan on how we can award them and what applicable businesses can eventually maximize the space,” he added. | TMD
