Alcover: “Chaotic” process of night market operation

CEBU, Philippines —  Councilor Pastor Alcover lambasted what he described as a “chaotic” process of the night market’s operation in a privilege speech before the Cebu City Council.

Alcover made the statement after learning that Cebu City Mayor Nestor Archival, through radio reports, said that the operation of the night market would no longer be coordinated with the Garbo Asenso Sumbanan Alyansa sa Gugma (GASA).

Alcover said the mayor’s decision stemmed from an assessment that GASA’s involvement would result in reduced revenue collection for the City Government.

“With due respect, I firmly refute this claim,” said Alcover.

He said the GASA was not created to collect revenue, but to serve as a mechanism for order, fairness, and social responsibility in regulating informal vendors and market operations.

Alcover said the organization was established to ensure that livelihood opportunities are extended to the marginalized, that fairness is observed in the allocation of stalls, and that compliance with health, sanitation, and safety standards is maintained.

“Way bisan usa ka provision sa GASA ordinance nagtug-an nga apil sa iyang function ang collection sa night market,” said Alcover.

Alcover said by streamlining vendor participation and eliminating fly-by-night operators—while also ensuring that only legitimate beneficiaries are included—the City stands to gain more in terms of stable revenue, public trust, and long-term sustainability.

He added that GASA is not a revenue-generating arm of Cebu City. It is a regulatory and recommending body duly recognized by the Sangguniang Panlungsod to ensure that night market operations comply with standards of order, safety, and fairness.

“Its primary mandate is to screen, accredit, and recommend qualified informal traders so that only legitimate vendors can participate,” said Alcover.

He said disregarding GASA on the grounds becuase it produces “less income” poses a risk of allowing operations that may be illegal or disorderly.

“The income of the city must not be used as a pretext to set aside legality, fairness, and order in governance,” said Alcover.

Alcover said that on September 3, 2025, informal traders who wanted to participate in the night market were called to the 9th floor of the community hall for the distribution of numbers that would determine their respective slots.

The councilor said that he managed to obtain a document from the Office of the Muslim Affairs and Indigenous Cultural Community (OMAICC), which bore a letterhead of the Cebu City Government.

“Kining letter of invitation was signed by Jeannat Allih Cortes, head sa OMAICC sa Cebu City. Kini nga bansagon taga Mandaue, wa ta kahibaw kon mobate ba kini sa dakbayan sa Sugbo,” said Alcover.

“My question Hon. Presiding Officer, who authorized OMAICC head Jeannat Alih Cortes to call for a meeting last September 3 to invite those who wish to join the night market activity?” he said.

Alcover said that this question must be addressed by the council as soon as possible to prevent further confusion. He said he gathered information that the vendor’s applications were coming from the Participative Associations of Sugbo Vendors Inc. (PASVI), which the councilor said he had not reported heared of.

“This is the first time I heard about this group of vendors in Cebu City,” he said.

In line with this, Alcover called upon the City Government, through the Mayor's Office, to convene GASA as mandated and allow it to perform its functions as the sole recommending body for all participants in the night market.

The council approved Alcover’s motion urging the recognition of GASA as the sole recommending body for all participants in the night market. The council also called for an executive session to further discuss the matter.