Fish vendors ask Bacolod gov’t more time to pay arrears

BACOLOD City – More than a hundred fish vendors at the Burgos Market in this city are asking the city government for additional time to pay their arrears.

Several members of the Burgos Market Fish Vendors’ Association (BMFVA) went to the office of Councilor Celia Flor, chair of the Sangguniang Panlungsod commi t t ee on markets, asking her to reconsider their request for an extension.

Carmel o Lacson J r. , secretary of the BMFVA, said they submitted yesterday, Jan. 15, their appeal to the city through the committee.

Lacson said t he city government has given them six months to settle their arrears, amounting to an average of P16,000 per vendor.

The deadline f or t he payment lapsed on Dec. 31, 2023.

The group, in their letter, also sought an apology from the city for failing to follow their agreement.

“Nagapangayo kami sang pasaylo sa amon obligasyon sa indi pagi mpas sa ginkasugtan nga amount sa kada stall nga amon gina- occupy s a sulod sang fish section sa gintalana nga date,” read part of the letter.

Fish vendors reasoned out that they failed to pay due to their very low income and have asked for six more months.

“Nagapangayo pa gid kami sang additional nga six months para bayran namun ang utang namun sa sini nga tuig antes kami nga i- transfer sa temporary nga merkado. Kag kon may ara nga indi pa gid makabayad kamo na ang mag-desisyon kon ano ang himoon,” the same letter cited.

Lacson said that they took the chance to appeal to the city amid worries that the City Legal Office would take action, possibly serving them a notice to vacate anytime soon.

Meanwhile, Flor told the vendors that she is yet to decide on their appeal because it has to be the committee that acts on it./