Tenants of the Manokan Country at the Reclamation Area in Bacolod City lighted candles during a vigil in front of the edifice Saturday night appealing to the Bacolod City government to defer the proposed sale of the city's landmark until after the May 2016 elections.

A signature drive had earlier been launched by the tenants to get the sentiments of the public on the proposed sale of the Manokan Country and the Bacolod Vendor's Plaza.

Rosario Tutor, vice president of the Manokan Country Vendor's Association, made an emotional appeal to Mayor Monico Puentevella not to sell the Manokan Country because it is their only source of income and their families and many of their workers will be displaced.

Tutor led the opening prayer seeking God's help and asking the public to understand their plight as she shed tears.

Kagawad Melanie Montoya of Barangay 12, who owns a carinderia in the area, said not only will the tenants of the Manokan Country be displaced but also the residents living in the area. “We believe God is not asleep if we are sincere in asking for His help. We have no ill-motive but only for the good of everybody,” she said.

Puentevella said the unpaid accounts of the tenants of the Manokan Country has reached almost P6 million and only three tenants have no accounts with the city.

He said the occupants of the Manokan Country will be given a place near the facility while improvements are being made. Only those who have no accounts will be given priority in the new Manokan Country, he added.

Tutor said they are open to a dialog with the mayor. She admitted that most of the tenants have delinquent accounts with the city but some have already started to pay.

She said she had been issued a business permit every year and does not understand why the city insists that they have unpaid accounts. She will check on the matter with the city because she believes she has no unsettled accounts.

POLITICAL STRATEGY?

Tutor said some of their customers believe this could be a political strategy, so they are asking the mayor to defer the sale of the Manokan Country until after the 2016 elections so it will not be tainted with malice.

SM Prime Holdings Inc. has proposed to purchase the 13,783 square meter property at Rizal Street, Road Lot 4 and Burgos Street at the Reclamation Area in Bacolod City that houses the Manokan Country and the Vendor's Plaza including an adjacent parking area.

Tutor said they are not against any development but any improvement on the Manokan Country should be undertaken by the city government.

“We agree to having the Manokan Country improved but we do not want it sold because if it is privatized, we may not be able to afford the rental,” she said.

But Puentevella said an Appraisal Committee has already been convened to oversee the transaction on the Manokan Country.

MAYOR BENT ON SALE

City Administrator Rolando Villamor said the mayor is bent on pursuing the sale of the Manokan Country and the Bacolod Vendor's Plaza. Part of the sale may be used for the improvement of the three major public markets, he said.

Villamor said the mayor also intends to use the proceeds of the sale to improve the City Health Office facilities, the construction of more classrooms, and for the procurement of books and other school supplies for public school children.

“A portion of the proceeds will also be given to the Bacolod City Police Office to improve their mobility and logistics,” he said.

Tutor said she believes that the national government has funds to build classrooms while the Philippine National Police also has a budget for the local police.

HERITAGE OF BACOLEÑOS

Meanwhile, Bacolod Rep. and former Mayor Evelio Leonardia said he was shocked to hear about the plans to sell the Manokan Country area because this site is part of the heritage of Bacoleños from their ancestors that they should preserve for posterity.

He said that when he was mayor of Bacolod, he never sold a single square meter owned by the city and, in fact, added to its territory by purchasing several hectares that have been used for the relocation of informal settlers and other purposes.

His most treasured acquisition for the city he said, is the area on which the Government Center stands, that was donated by a prominent family during his term as mayor in what he believes is a proof of their confidence and support for their city.

BACOLOD'S ATTRACTION

Leonardia also said that the Manokan Country is one of the attractions of Bacolod and is famous for its grilled Chicken Inasal. It goes hand in hand with the city's celebration of the MassKara festival.

Tourists always look for the distinct flavor of grilled Chicken Inasal which Bacolod is known for. It is like the La Paz Batchoy of Iloilo," he said.

The Manokan tenants have created an industry which has grown bigger now, he said.

For now the tenants pay a monthly rental of P2,500 and yet, most of them could hardly pay, Leonardia said.

He was informed that the monthly rental being collected from the tenants of a similar block beside Shoemart particularly at Burgos-Reclamation area is almost P15,000 a month, he said.

Leonardia said that if the Manokan Country is improved and is already owned by Shoemart, the monthly rental may even increase to more than the P15,000.

He is opposing the sale of the Manokan Country property because he believes that the city can develop or improve it.

Leonardia said the arrears of the tenants can just be discussed. He recalled that they even condoned some of their arrears when he was mayor.*CGS

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