Manokan Country in Bacolod opens at temporary site


BACOLOD CITY – The temporary site for tenants of the Manokan Country at the parking area of SM City Bacolod is now open as the existing area across the mall in Barangay 12 here undergoes major renovation.

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CHICKEN inasal stalls at the temporary area of Manokan Country at the parking space of SM City Bacolod just across the existing site in Barangay 12, Bacolod City is now open. (Photo courtesy of Bacolod PIO)

Mayor Albee Benitez and city officials visited the temporary site on Thursday, Jan. 30, to check the situation of tenants.

The temporary site has 24 stalls, with a common dining area, handwashing station, and a comfort room.

The city initially set the transfer of the tenants to the temporary area in August last year, but due to some concerns, it was extended until they were only given until Jan. 31 of this year to operate in the existing site, as the fencing will start by next month.

To promote the temporary site, Benitez said that the city is studying a proposal to give food stamps to boost the sales of the tenants, just like what they did during the MassKara Festival last year, where they provided food vouchers to kiosk tenants to help them earn despite the bad weather.

However, the mechanics have yet to be discussed, and Benitez said that they will have to sit down and discuss the matter.

The city is planning to extend P20,000 financial assistance to each tenant to enable them to set up roll-up doors for added security at their stalls.

Aside from the tenants, 22 informal settlers in Barangay 12 will also be affected by the demolition of the Manokan Country that will pave the way for a P4-billion redevelopment project.

Benitez recently granted the request of Barangay 12 Captain Ely Alcantara Jr. to suspend the demolition of the residential structures for a month to give affected residents more time to prepare for their transfer to the relocation site in Barangay Vista Alegre. The scheduled demolition was set on Jan. 28 but it was held off until Feb. 28.

The city government collaborated with SM Prime Holdings Inc. to redevelop the iconic Manokan Country to boost tourism and economic growth in this city. The project is tentatively targeted to operate by this year.