BACOLOD City – The Bacolod City Government is stepping up efforts to clear illegal passenger transport barkers from the downtown area and the vicinity of the Bacolod Public Plaza while providing alternative livelihood assistance to help them transition to more sustainable sources of income.
In what city officials described as a “breakthrough” initiative, more than 100 barkers attended a consultation meeting led by City Administrator Atty. Mark Steven Mayo in coordination with Bacolod City Police Office Police Station 1, following the directive of Mayor Greg Gasataya to pursue a humane and long-term solution to the issue.
The consultation is part of the city government’s broader campaign to restore order, ease traffic congestion, and improve discipline in the downtown district while ensuring affected individuals are given opportunities to establish alternative livelihoods.
Prior to the meeting, the city government and Police Station 1 conducted profiling activities involving more than 100 barkers operating around the public plaza and nearby transport areas in preparation for the implementation of stricter regulations.
According to Mayo, the city is prepared to provide seed capital and livelihood assistance to qualified beneficiaries on the condition that they permanently vacate the plaza area and engage in alternative income-generating activities elsewhere.
“Before we can implement that, there will first be profiling by our livelihood officers, followed by a series of social preparation sessions by the Department of Social Services and Development (DSSD) to determine if they are ready, able, and eligible to avail themselves of the livelihood assistance,” Mayo said.
He added that during the initial consultation held on May 23, many of the barkers expressed willingness to participate in the city’s livelihood transition program.
“Tinguhaan gid ni Mayor Gasataya nga mahatagan sang alternative nga source of income ang aton mga barkers sa public plaza paagi sa livelihood program sang syudad,” Mayo said.
The consultation also included social preparation and values formation sessions conducted with the assistance of Police Station 1, headed by Major Rondyl M. Tapang, and several pastors from Bacolod City.
“Salamat gid sa aton mga kauturan nga barkers sa pagtambong kag sa kooperasyon. Handa magbulig ang syudad basta handa man kamo nga buligan,” the city administrator said.
Earlier, the BCPO announced that it would intensify its crackdown on illegal barkers, particularly around the Bacolod Public Plaza, as part of efforts to improve traffic flow and maintain public order.
Police Colonel Eugene Rebadomia, director of the BCPO, said authorities would strictly enforce City Ordinance No. 08-15-729, which regulates and prohibits the unauthorized solicitation or procurement of passengers for motor vehicles-for-hire in streets, transport terminals, and parking areas within Bacolod City./PN
