CEBU, Philippines - The Warwick Barracks Stall Owners and Livelihood Association, Inc. is asking the Cebu City government to allow the association members to sell their goods at Lot 913 in Sitio Warwick Barracks.
In a letter to Councilor Alvin Arcilla, association president Perla Eraya asked the city to allow those vendors affected by the January 11 fire to occupy half of Lot 913 so they can continue with their livelihood.
“I, on behalf of the affected residents, vendors and stall owners in Sitio Warwick Barracks, Brgy. Ermita represented by the Warwick Barracks Stall OwnersandLivelihoodAssociation, would like to propose to your good office a resolution to give concrete arrangement for our plight. A resolution to allocate half of the lot of Sitio Warwick Barracks identified as Lot 913, which is currently turned into a parking lot in the present,†Eraya’s letter reads.
The affected vendors have been relocated to Block 27 at the North Reclamation Area but Eraya said the Warwick Barracks, situated at the rear portion of the Carbon Market, is still a better place to sell their goods. She said the vendors are earning less at the NRA than what they used to earn at Warwick Barracks.
“Didto sa Block 27 gamay ra kaayo ug kita ang mga maninda didto kay ang mga taga didto ra sad ang mamalit. Mao nga mas nindot gyud sa Carbon Market kay daghan ug tawo,†Eraya said.
Eraya said they are only asking for a temporary arrangement and the organization is willing to manage a system to ensure orderliness once the city heeds the proposal.
Last month, the vendors sought the help of the Ombudsman in convincing the city government to allow them to return to Warwick Barracks.
Earlier still, some Warwick Barracks occupants who were spared by the fire lodged a complaint in court to stop the city government, represented by Mayor Michael Rama, and PROBE Chief Raquel Bohol Arce, in her capacity as market administrator, from demolishing their houses and stores.
“Petitioners feared that respondents will destroy their properties without due process of law, just like what happened to those fire victims whose makeshift shelters were demolished by respondents without any court order and/or adequate notice to vacate,†the petition reads.
Such act, the occupants said, violates Section 28 of Republic Act 7279 (Urban Development and Housing Act of 1992).
They argued that the city is actually not the registered owner or rightful possessor of Warwick Barracks, which has an area of 5,685 square meters.
Arce, however, said, the vendors should also see that the city is only looking after their welfare by putting them at an area that is safe.
“Ang ilang mentalidad man gud, gusto ra nila og kasayon. Mosakripisyo unta kay naa’y giandam ang gobyerno para nila (They only think of their ease. They should learn to sacrifice because the government is preparing something for them),†Arce said. (FREEMAN)