Berthing fees at the Carbon Market Wharf

Decades ago the Carbon Market Pier was functional. Motorboats or sailboats were docking or berthing the wharf there.

The Municipal Board of the City of Cebu enacted an ordinance imposing fees on landing or berthing of the vessels. The Board in a Special Session on April 8, 1954 enacted City Ordinance No. 177 entitled "An ordinance imposing berthing fees on motorboats or motor vessels and/or sailboats landing in the City of Cebu at the Carbon Market Water Platform, Pier or Wharf."

The ordinance was authored by President Casimiro V. Madarang (equivalent of today's Vice Mayor) supported by Councilors Eulogio E. Borres, Julian A. Alcantara, Carlos J. Cuizon, Jose A. Cavan, Generoso Jaca and Luis V. Diores.

The ordinance ordained that no person, individual, company or corporation owning or operating a motorboat or motor vessel or sailboat shall be permitted to land at the Carbon Market Water Platform without first paying the following fees every landing. The fees ranged from 0.25 centavos to P5.00 depending on the capacity of the motor vessel or sailboat.

Under the ordinance, landing was defined as the berthing or the landing of a vessel at the Carbon Market Water Platform or wharf or other similar structure and its stay therein for a period of not more than twenty-four hours. Additional fraction or extension of stay of the vessel shall be considered a separate landing, thus requiring another payment of fees. Carbon was the center of trade of Cebu then.

The penalty for violating the ordinance shall be a punishment of a fine of not more than Two Hundred Pesos (P200) or by imprisonment of not more than six months or both such fine and imprisonment in the discretion of the Court.

The name of the place Carbon was coined from the word carbon, the minerals deposited in the area used to fuel train in the old railway system. Its old name however is "Lutao District."

Several versions have been made as to why it was called "lutao." There was version that it was named so because things would float as seawater would reach the land area. Another version was that "lutao" is a Tausog word for ghost, meaning that people believe that they have seen the likes of it in the area long time ago.

The barangay where it is situated is called "Ermita" which is coined from the word "ermita" which means chapel. Others wrote that "ermitanyos" or hermits (bearded men who lived in solitude) used to live in the place.

The ordinance was approved on April 30, 1954 during the term of Florentino D. Tecson, the Acting Mayor at that time. The Secretary to the Mayor was Cornelio C. Magbanua while the Secretary of the Council or Board was Pio A. Kabahar.