A no-street-vending policy at Bonifacio Street, Bacolod City will be imposed starting Monday to clear the area of about 500 fish and vegetable vendors, Bacolod Mayor Monico Puentevella said yesterday.

During a meeting with them yesterday, Puentevella ordered Mila Lumugdang, Bacolod Central Market supervisor, to enforce the policy and also asked the vendors to transfer inside the Bacolod Central Market.

Puentevella said the streets are for motorists and not for vendors, so they should find their place inside the Central Market. If they cannot all be accommodated, he will give them priority at the Vendor's Plaza once it is operational.

The city put a jeepney terminal at the Vendors Plaza so the people can buy from the vendors who will be transferred there, he said.

He also requested the vendors to process their application for renewal of business permits, pay their taxes and start settling their arrears on market rentals.

Records from City Hall showed that the delinquency of the Bacolod Central Market, Manokan Country, North Public Market and South Public Market in terms of rental amounted to P43,975,749.41 as of June 30, 2013, while the collection of the city was only P546,045.06.

Meanwhile, Marlita Onggada, president of the Luzuriaga-Bonifacio Fish Vendors Association, is appealing to the Bacolod City Government for extension of time to find an area where they could transfer since the city has no alternative place for them yet, in case they cannot all be accommodated inside the Central Market.

Onggada said they are worried that their livelihood will be affected since they have children who are studying and some are graduating this March. They have not yet also recovered from the effects of Typhoon Yolanda so they are asking for an extension of time since five days is not enough for them to prepare, she said.

She assured that they are willing to cooperate with the Mayor but they are asking for a little consideration.

Generoso Tacluyan, Transient Vendors Association president, said they will transfer to the Vendor's Plaza once the facility is ready for occupancy and has a jeepney terminal operating adjacent to it.*CGS

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