By Glazyl Y. Masculino
BACOLOD CITY – Tenants of Manokan Country have been given until the second week of September to relocate to the temporary facility situated in the parking area of SM City Bacolod, across from the current Manokan Country in Barangay 12 here.
The extension surpasses the original deadline of August 25 and follows a series of previous extensions granted to the tenants.
In a media interview on Monday, City Legal Officer Romeo Carlos Ting Jr. explained that SM management requested the additional extension to allow for the completion of the exhaust system in the temporary facility.
Initially, it was agreed that tenants would provide the exhaust system. However, SM later decided to cover the cost and installation.
Ting said SM is awaiting the arrival of certain materials needed for the exhaust system, which will take some time to install.
“They wanted to ensure the facility is fully prepared. In the meantime, there will be no closure of the stalls this month until the temporary facility is ready,” he added.
Mayor Alfredo “Albee” Benitez had ordered the closure of the stalls on July 16 after tenants initially refused to relocate to the temporary facility despite multiple negotiations.
Additionally, some tenants had not settled or updated their arrears with the city government.
However, tenants were allowed to continue operating at the existing Manokan Country from July 17, provided they began processing their utilities before transferring to the temporary facility.
