The Bacolod Sangguniang Panlungsod will ask Congress to amend the law declaring October 19 as the Charter Day of Bacolod and make it June 18 instead.

During its session yesterday, Councilor Archie Baribar said that since there is yet the existence of Republic Act No. 326 or an Act Creating the City of Bacolod, therefore, June 18 of every year should be considered as the commemoration of the signing into law of the city’s Charter.

He also suggested that the proposed ordinance introduced by Councilor Caesar Distrito and seven other councilors should be titled an ordinance commemorating June 18 as the day of signing of the Charter Day of Bacolod.

Baribar added that the city should have two celebrations for the moment until they have erased in Congress the law declaring October 19 as the city’s Charter Day.

Distrito said their proposed ordinance will now be known as the city’s commemoration day which is another word for Charter day so that it will not run in conflict with the national law.

He said their proposed ordinance is the day when the law was signed so they will be declaring June 18 as the commemoration of the singing of the charter of Bacolod City.

Distrito agreed that, for the meantime, they will have two celebrations in a year which includes June 18 as the commemoration of the signing into law of R.A. 326 and October 19 as the inauguration day of the City of Bacolod.

Meanwhile, the SP has agreed to the suggestion of the market vendors associations of the three major markets and Manokan Country in Bacolod City to condone penalties on rental obligations and only require them to pay their principal obligation on a staggered basis in one to three years.

The presidents of the three public markets and the Manokan Country in Bacolod City appealed to the Sangguniang Panlungsod to pass the ordinance condoning the surcharges, interests, penalties and arrearages on the rental obligations of stall, table and block occupants of the markets.

Distrito, chairman of the SP Committee on Markets and Slaughterhouse, said that, although the SP has agreed to their suggestion, they will have to pay their business tax liabilities on a deferred payment within one to three years, but there will be no condonation of penalties.

He said vendors who fail to pay within two months after the lapse of three years, will be imposed the penalty of closure of their stores and cancellation of their contracts.

Distrito, however, said the vendors have shown their intention to pay with the submission of a manifesto coming from all the presidents of the three public markets – Burgos, Central and Libertad including Manokan Country. They have committed to comply with the Ordinance once approved and implemented, he said.

He said arrears on market rentals have reached about P40 million as of yesterday but will be reduced it to about P25 million if condonations are made.

Distrito said the city will be serious in collecting the fees this time and failure on the part of the vendors to pay will mean closure of their stalls and spaces, and these will be up for auction.*CGS

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