The Bacolod Public Plaza was cleared of more than 100 illegal vendors, homeless persons and “barkers” Thursday morning, Sept. 26, to restore order and safety to the area.
Bacolod Public Order and Safety Office chief Primitivo Tabujara said the POSO will keep a close watch on the plaza to ensure the safety of Bacolodnons and tourists visiting the area.
Sixteen homeless persons were turned over to the Department of Social Services and Development (DSSD), while 20 manicurists, 29 shoe repair persons, 10 massage therapists, 30 barkers, and 15 ambulant vendors were warned to stop engaging in business at the plaza without permits, he said.
The homeless persons, about half of whom were elderly, are temporarily being housed at the Bacolod Anti-Mendicancy Office until they can be returned to their places of origin, City Social Welfare Officer Alma Gustilo said.
About half of the homeless persons at the plaza are not from Bacolod, she said.
“We are assessing where they are from, if they are from Bacolod we will refer them to their barangays and if they are from out of town we will contact the local DSWD in their areas,“ she said.
Tabujara said they cleared the plaza because of complaints of disorderly activities in the area.
A joint team from the City Legal Office, POSO, DSSD and police took part in the clearing operations on Thursday, he said.
They also confiscated chairs, tables and grocery items owned by vendors at the plaza, and chess boards, he said.
They rounded up “barkers” in the area amid complaints some of them bad mouth persons who park who do not give them money or pay them enough, Tabujara said.
There have also been complaints that they cause traffic in the area, he said.
Those rounded up will not be allowed in the area until they undergo an orientation and are issued identification cards, he said.
Some vendors complained that they were not given the opportunity to legally do business in the plaza even though they have been selling there for a long time.
Tabujara said only those who have obtained permits from the city government will be considered legitimate.*