Vendors’ group calls for fairness

CEBU, Philippines — Vendors at the Carbon Market have stepped up their call for fairness and transparency in stall allocation, meeting Mayor Nestor Archival just days before the Cebu City Council’s executive session today, June 23, to investigate alleged illegal collections.

The Carbon For All Coalition (CFAC), composed of small-time vendors and businessmen, warned that accreditation has become politicized, with stall distribution allegedly influenced by favoritism and political ties.

Convenor Abner Quino urged fellow vendors to unite against exploitation, stressing that modernization should not come at the expense of ordinary traders.

“Maghiusa ta batok sa pagpangilad ug pagpangabus,” he said, calling for collective action.

CFAC alleged that some vendors cannot obtain stalls unless they have strong political backers.

The group said it aims to level the playing field in a market marred by corruption and favoritism.

Quino added that CFAC is willing to accept vendors who have been excluded due to rigid membership processes and vague fees imposed by certain groups.

He noted that some vendors in Metro Cebu have also expressed interest in joining the coalition to secure space in the redeveloped market.

“We are also calling all vendors who are tired of being used as milking cows by some groups to come and join us in this action against apparent exploitation,” Quino said.

A few months earlier, Archival directed the City Market Office to probe reports of unauthorized daily fees, some allegedly reaching ?420 per vendor, covering rent, utilities, tents, weighing scales, and garbage collection.

He also ordered a review of the number of legitimate vendors and stalls, noting that unregulated collections may even surpass official city revenues.

This paved the way for the Cebu City Council to call today’s executive session with representatives from the Markets Administrator, Barangay Ermita Council, CEMVEDCO, Carbohanong Alyansa, CCUVA, AEVAI, the City Legal Office, and the City Treasurer’s Office.

The session is expected to examine the legality of daily, weekly, and monthly collections, identify groups or cooperatives imposing fees, scrutinize the issuance of receipts and accounting of funds, and address allegations of irregular practices involving stalls, tents, and weighing scales.

The controversy unfolds against the backdrop of the ?8?billion redevelopment of the Carbon Market under a Joint Venture Agreement between the Cebu City Government and Megawide Construction Corp.

Supporters had stressed that modernization will boost tourism and restore Freedom Park, while critics warn that thousands of vendors could be displaced and the market’s public character eroded.