At least for a while, to give way to the new and redeveloped Manokan Country that private firm SM Prime Holdings will construct under a private-public partnership with City Hall.
City Legal Officer Romeo Carlos Ting Jr., told DNX the delay in the demolition of the old stalls is due to the ongoing processing of necessary documents by the City Engineers Office and the Commission on Audit.
Ting said vendors of Manokan Country must notify the city government by today, 20 June, if they plan to transfer to the temporary stalls provided by SM Prime.
However, there are only 24 temporary stalls available for the 26 vendors, leaving two of them without stalls.
Ting noted the vendors’ concerns about the adequacy of these temporary stalls, particularly in accommodating their customer base.
“We understand their worry about space, especially if they have many customers. That’s why we haven’t finalized the closure of one lane of Padre M. Ferrero Street yet. We will observe first if there is indeed a need to close one lane to accommodate the vendors and their customers,” Ting said.
He also said that the redevelopment plan includes parts of the Bacolod BAYS Center and Barangays 10 and 12.
Despite the completion of the temporary stalls, vendors opposed to move from their original locations.
However, City Hall has set a deadline, demanding that all 24 vendors must relocate by 5 July 2024.
The Manokan Country is a collection of stalls where vendors sell chicken barbecue, a cultural property being claimed by the city.
