BACOLOD City – Flower vendors currently located on Father M. Ferrero Street in the Reclamation Area, Barangay 12, may soon be displaced.
The city government is exploring relocation options for them.
City Legal Officer Romeo Carlos Ting Jr. confirmed that SM Prime Holdings Inc. (SPHI) has petitioned the city to reclassify the dead-end section of the street from a road lot to a commercial lot. This area presently accommodates approximately 18 flower vendors.
The conversion of the road lot into a commercial property hinges on the approval of the city council, which has the authority under the Local Government Code to pass such a resolution.
SPHI has already leased 16,875 square meters of city government land opposite SM City Mall, which includes the Manokan Country, as part of a broader redevelopment initiative.
According to Ting, the lease agreement includes provisions for SPHI to annex the road lot and compensate the city should the area be reclassified as commercial.
This reclassification would mirror previous adjustments made by the city, similar to the arrangement with the S&R location.
The future of the flower vendors remains uncertain, with the city yet to identify a new location for their businesses.
The ongoing redevelopment efforts have also impacted vendors at Manokan Country, who are currently transitioning to a temporary setup provided by SPHI in the parking area of SM City Mall./PN
