One vendor, one stall policy gains support

CEBU, Philippines — Carbon Market Vendors Development Cooperative (CEMVEDCO) President Erwin Goc-ong expressed support for the “One Vendor, One Stall” policy for Carbon Public Market that will be implemented by incoming Cebu City Mayor Nestor Archival.

“[It’s a] welcome development. We are agreeable, we are happy about that statement,” he said.

Goc-ong said that this policy will allow a chance for other vendors to secure their own stall. He said this will prevent individuals from monopolizing multiple spaces in the market.

He assured that vendors will abide by the policy, but he hopes for its fair implementation.

“Pero moagi lang ug process, nga matarong lang gyud ba. Dili modawat og under the table,” he said.

Goc-ong clarified that in the Carbon Market, there are no more vendors who own more than one stall.

“Kung tan-awon nimo ang Market Code, it’s not one stall per vendor - it is one stall per nuclear family,” he emphasized.

As an example, Goc-ong said that if his mother owned a stall, but he later owned a different stall as a married individual, then they can no longer be considered a nuclear family as he is independent from his parents.

In this case, they are both eligible to own their respective stalls, while being compliant with the policy.

On June 12, Archival attended the “All Vendors Forum,” where he discussed the passage of an ordinance to protect vendors’ livelihoods, including the issue of stall owners controlling multiple stalls.

To resolve this issue, Archival asked vendors to provide him with the list of all legitimate vendors occupying the market.

He also pushed for a “one vendor, one stall” policy, and urged vendors to be transparent with an accurate report of their membership numbers.

Archival emphasized that vendors must also make an effort to unite with one another and to comply with the established guidelines instead of leaving all the work to the government.

“Win-win…mao na akong giingon sa mga vendors, nga dili lang inyo lang tanan matuman, matuman inyong tuyo, dapat give and take, di ta makamando, makahangyo ta,” he said.

While he recognized that not all concerns by vendors will be addressed immediately, he reassured that he will continue negotiatiy with Megawide to ensure fair opportunities for all vendors.

With a new set of councilors soon to start their mandate, Archival hopes to gain their support in addressing vendor issues. — CNU Intern Joseph Adrian Leyson JG (FREEMAN)