Vendors worry over budget for Unit II of Carbon Market

CEBU, Philippines - Market vendors in the city have expressed concern over the turnout of Mayor Michael Rama’s proposal for a P100 million additional budget to construct Unit II of the Carbon Market.

The vendors are worried that the City Council will not approve the additional budget now that relationship between Rama and the Council have turned sour. 

“Nahadlok g’yud mi nga lisud-lisuron sa mga sakop sa City Council ug dili nila aprobahan ang giduso nga additional fund sa mayor diha sa supplemental budget,” said Erwin Goc-ong, chairman of the Cebu City Market Vendors Cooperative, in a press briefing at the mayor’s office yesterday.

Goc-ong said they are aware of the assurance of Vice Mayor Augustus Young that the Council will not block projects that would benefit the public, but the current situation reportedly ushers in fears that the project will be delayed again.

Rama already allocated P70 million for the construction of Unit II and requested President Benigno Aquino II to finance the construction of the market. 

The old Carbon Market Unit II was razed by fire in 1998, which forced the city to allow vendors to occupy a portion of M.C. Briones Street so they can continue their trade.

Then mayor Alvin Garcia allocated P140 million for the reconstruction of the market building in the location of the Carbon market Unit II, but former mayor Tomas Osmeña cancelled the project.

In a separate development, the P10 million that Rama allocated for the reroofing of the Pasil Fish Market has been realigned for the rehabilitation of the Pasil Fish Port in Barangay Pasil.

The Department of Engineering and Public Works (DEPW) already conducted a survey in Gines and Belgium Streets, interior roads in Barangay C. Padilla that lead to the Pasil Fish Port to determine the cost of widening the roads. — (FREEMAN)