The Manokan Country in Bacolod City is back in business again.
Bacolod Mayor Alfredo Abelardo Benitez granted its reopening on Wednesday, July 17, until August 19 after its 24 tenants assured him that they will transfer to their temporary site at the SM City parking lot across the street.
The mayor had ordered the closure of the Manokan Country on Tuesday after the tenants failed to transfer to the temporary site despite prior commitments and extended deadlines.
The tenants, in a meeting with the mayor on Wednesday morning, submitted a written confirmation of their intent to transfer to the temporary site.
The mayor has allowed the tenants to continue to operate at the Manokan Country while their water and electricity connections are being set up at the new site, Councilor Celia Flor, chairperson of the Bacolod Sangguniang Panlungsod Committee on Markets and Slaughterhouse, said.
The city government will be assisting them to expedite the process, she said.
The tenants who are able to begin operations at the new site before the deadline will be allowed to simultaneously operate at the Manokan County until August 19, she said.
After the August 19 deadline the Manokan County will be boarded up to make way for SM Prime Holdings Inc. to begin the construction of a new building at the site.
SMPHI has leased the property where the Manokan Country is located from the city government with the assurance that it will provide spaces for the current tenants in the new building.
The tenants who move to the temporary site rent free will be allotted spaces at the new Manokan building when it is completed.
The about ten Manokan Country tenants who have not paid their rent were told to pay at least 10 percent of their arrears, and the rest over an 18-month period, Flor said.
Since they will be occupying the temporary Manokan site rent fee they will have the funds to pay for their arrears, she said.
The agreement is they will not be allowed to transfer to the permanent Manokan Country site at the new building if they have not fully paid, Flor said.
Non-compliance will forfeit their space.
Once the tenants are situated in the temporary site, Fr. Ferrero Street will be made an extension of the Manokan stalls and will be closed to vehicles, a statement from the mayor’s office said.
A long canopy will be installed along the entire strip to ensure dining comfort while they are operating in the temporary area, it said.
The mayor also plans to convert the Fr. Ferrero Street into a night market, Flor said.*