Vendors protest Carbon’s “pedestrianization”

CEBU, Philippines — The Carbohanong Alyansa is back on the streets – this time, to protest against the “pedestrianization” of the Carbon Night Market, saying it is disorganized, discriminatory, and inaccessible to many vendors.

Several vendors and their supporters yesterday trooped to the City Hall to express their sentiments concerning the said night market’s setup.

“Kaming mga vendors nga gikan sa nagkalainlaing kapunongan nagkahiusa sa pagpanawagan nga ihunong ang pagpatuman sa pag-usab sa desinyo sa Carbon Night Market,” read part of their statement.

The group claimed it did not have a feasibility study and public consultation with the vendors.

“Busa, mapahiubsanon namong gihangyo ang kagamhanan sa dakbayan sa Sugbo nga ihunong ang pagpatuman sa ‘pedestrianization’ sa Carbon night market.”

The affected vendors said their sales and earnings have dwindled with the setup being more on retail, while public and private vehicles are not allowed along the streets of F. Calderon, MC Briones, Manalili, and Plaridel.

“Naghikaw kini sa among mga kustomer nga naay sakyanan nga kasagaran mga komprador/mamakyaway ug dakong bahin sa kita sa mga wholesaler vendors gikan kanila. Tangtangon ang tanang NO ENTRY, yellow railings ug orange traffic barriers nga gihisgotan sa ibabaw aron maagian na sa mga sakyanan (public ug private),” the vendors added.

Apart from that, they were allegedly made to pay P3,500 or P4,500, on an installment basis, for a 2x2 tent, and another P20 per vendor per night for the buntings and lighting on the arc installed in different locations.

The vendors also pointed out that the Hawker Center at the Freedom Park is the favored one having a parking lot of its own. The Hawker Center is part of the redevelopment project of Carbon Market under a joint venture agreement (JVA) with Megawide.

“Dili kami uyon nga kining tanan gipatuman subay sa Joint Venture Agreement nga mag-privatize na sa Carbon. Gawas pa, kontrolado sa Megawide ang komposisyon sa UMC4 (tigpatuman sa night market). Silang tanan sa UMC4, uyon sa privatization project,” the group added.

The group also hopes that the Warwick barracks be utilized as a parking lot, with parking fees based on the Cebu City Market Code of 2017.

Vendors along Lincoln, Leyson/Progreso, Manalili, Plaridel, and F. Gonzales streets should not also be taken out as they are not part of the project site under the JVA, they said.

Night markets in Cebu City had been put up supposedly to augment the income of the vendors and start-up businesses and those affected by the clearing of the sidewalk as well as for other sellers, including ambulant vendors, affected by the redevelopment of the Carbon Market, among others. – (FREEMAN)