By: Dolly Yasa
BACOLOD City – The Bacolod city government kicked off road clearing operations on Aug 14 to 16, 2019.
Bacolod City Mayor Evelio “Bing” Leonardia assured vendors of Libertad Public Market of assistance following the road clearing operation in the area.
In a dialogue conducted on Aug 13 at the Bacolod City Government Center, Leonardia said displaced sidewalk vendors will be transferred inside the market.
While assuring the sellers that they could continue doing business to support their families, Leonardia also reminded them to maintain cleanliness and order inside the market area.
Other city officials present in the talks were Vice Mayor EL Cid Familiaran, Councilor Bartolome Orola, Administrative Officer IV and Concurrent Market Supervisor Atty. Allyn Luv Zamora-Dignadice, Executive Assistant Ernesto Pineda, and Bacolod Traffic Office head Police Lieutenant Colonel Luisito Acebuche.
Familiaran said the city government has received criticisms amid the road clearing measures, especially on social media.
He said action must be taken in line with a memorandum from the Department of Interior and Local Government and President Rodrigo Duterte’s directive.
Leonardia and Familiaran said the main priority is to help the vendors earn and survive.
“We are called City of Smiles and it is evident that even during this time of adjustment and difficulty for the vendors we can still smile,” the mayor said.
