BACOLOD City – The closure of the Manokan Country at the Reclamation Area in Barangay 12 here has been postponed.
The stall owners were given a two-week extension, or until July 20, to transfer to their temporary area at the parking lot of SM City Malls, across from the current Manokan Country following their submission of a compromise agreement to the city government.
Councilor Vladimir Gonzales said the vendors were given extension to process their water meter and power connection at the parking area.
On July 5, a day before the scheduled closure on July 6, Manokan Country Association secretary Henry Posadas sent a compromise agreement to Mayor Alfredo Abelardo Benitez.
“In behalf of the 23 members of the Manokan Country Vendors Association, we all agree to transfer to a temporary site location within the vicinity of SM City Malls subject to the following terms and conditions,” read part of the agreement.
Among those included in the list of the things they believe would make their day-to-day operations more convenient for customers are the following:
* All 23 tenants shall be included in the temporary area regardless of their arrears. Rest assured that they will settle their accounts and comply within the necessary documents needed to operate.
* A roof/canopy like structure be built to shed the extended area of portions of Ferrero Street for the comfort and convenience of customers.
* Temporary location of the Manokan Country is free of rental charge, and chimney or exhaust hood shall be provided.
On July 6, a letter signed by 23 stall owners was also submitted to the office of Councilor Gonzales. They proposed for a memorandum of agreement to be approved by the City Council, with the terms and conditions based on their earlier compromise agreement.
However, City Legal Officer Romeo Carlos Ting Jr. said there is no need for a compromise agreement or a memorandum of agreement because there is already a contract of lease.
Based on the notice to vacate issued by the City Legal Office (CLO) dated June 3, 2024, stall owners were given until July 5 to leave their rented stalls.
The CLO served another notice dated June 14, 2024, or a notice of willingness to transfer to the site provided by SM Prime Holdings Inc. (SPHI).
The city government leased the Manokan land to SPHI for redevelopment./PN
