Bacolod to regulate ambulant vendors at Tourism Strip

BACOLOD City executive assistant Ernesto Pineda, chief coordinator of Market Coordinating and Monitoring Task Force, said yesterday they will regulate the presence of ambulant vendors at the Tourism Strip in Lacson Street during the Electric Masskara performing floats competition on October 26 to 28.

Pineda, who held a meeting with the president of vendors association at the Old City Hall yesterday, said festival director Eli Francis Tajanlangit informed him there will be a contest for the “Best Cart” for the vendors at the Tourism Strip.

“If they (vendors) are willing to join, they should decorate their carts with festive lights or Masskara designs while vending at Tourism Strip,” he said.

Pineda pointed out that only those carts with festive lights or designs can enter the festival site and after the judging, they can start to sell their products in the area.

He said every night, there will be an awarding of three vendor winners.

“We need their cooperation for the success of our festival celebration,” he added

Meanwhile, after the Masskara Festival, the flower vendors can also start to construct their stalls within the designated areas at Libertad public market along Hernaez and Mabini Streets; Burgos public market along Burgos and Galo Streets; and Bacolod public plaza along San Juan, Gonzaga, and Gatuslao Streets.

Pineda said about 150 flower vendors have already secured special permits at the Government Center to display their flowers starting October 29 to November 2.

He said the flower vendors were required to pay P200 for a special permit and P200 for garbage fees.*