The transfer of the tenants of the Bacolod Manokan Country to their temporary space at the terminal hub of SM City was postponed on September 12, Mayor Alfredo Abelardo Benitez said Wednesday, August 21. This was after SM Prime Holdings Inc. (SPHI) requested from the city government to give them more time to install the exhaust fans in the area.
The tenants were earlier given another month, or from July 19 to August 19, to process their transfer to the temporary area, including the transfer of their water and electricity utilities. Benitez said he approved the request of SM so there will be a delay on the transfer of the tenants. “I’m not sure if it’s final (September 12) but, in the meantime, I’m also encouraging the tenants if they can start transferring their things or equipment to the terminal hub of SM City,” he said.
Manokan Country has a total of 27 tenants, but only 26 of them were operating in the area. Of 26 tenants, 24 agreed to transfer to the temporary space at the terminal hub of SM City while the two other affected tenants have their location to continue their businesses. On October 20, 2023, the city government of Bacolod signed a contract agreement with SM Prime to redevelop the iconic Manokan Country.
SM Prime has already turned over P131.89 million to the city government to redevelop Manokan Country. Moreover, Benitez said he will also ask SM Prime to submit to his office the newly designed Manokan Country, which was earlier released by SM to the .