City willing to listen to Carbon vendors

CEBU, Philippines — City Administrator Atty. Collin Rosell said the Cebu City government is willing to sit down and listen to the sentiments of the disgruntled vendors on the Carbon Night Market.

Rosell said they heard the vendors protest about it but they have not received a copy of their petition.

“Ang atong nadungog mga estorya lang…Wala man tay nakuha nga unsa gyud ang gikinanghlan nga buhaton, unsay petition nga ilang ganahan i-address,” Rosell was quoted in PIO’s report.

Right after the protest last week, Rosell met with the United Multi-Sectoral Coordination Council and head of the Market Operations’ Division, Engr. Robert Barquilla, to hear their side.

Maria Pino, of the Cebu City United Vendors’ Association (CCUVA), said there is no basis to object on the pedestrianization and everything has been kept in order and clean contrary to what the protesters described as “disorganized, discriminatory, and inaccessible to many vendors”.

“Wala man siguroy night market na di ta mag lakaw…naay kaagian but walay owner ug public jeepneys…karon gihapsay, ginindot ug gilimpo ug gihayagan ug gi secure,” Pino said.

“Dili ma please ang tanan, but dili lang unta pasobrahan…daghan sad ming nasayod sa sitwasyon sa Carbon,” Pino added.

Erwin Goc-ong, also a vendor, agreed with Pino saying that Carbon, including the night market, is now more organized and clean.

“Nindot na sya karon, hapsay ng mga agianan, arange na tanan,” Goc-ong said.

The Megawide via Cebu2World, developer of Carbon market, clarified that the night market is not part of the joint venture agreement.

“We would like to clarify nga wala gyuy gi-collect ang Cebu2World sa kaning night market nato…And also katong ilang contention nga this is part of the entire privatization plan, precisely, kaning night market wala niy relation sa atong joint venture…and this is actually a collaborative effort…daghang sectors involved,” says C2W representative Jaworksi Alipon.

Rosell said they will be calling all vendors soon to tackle this latest issue.

“As head of market authority, being the city administrator, kanang tanang namaligya ron sa Carbon, ato na’ng tawgon…tagaag panahon to say their concern,” Rosell said.

City Councilor Nestor Archival is also requesting for an executive session in the City Council to allow the vendors to air their concerns. —  Sanden Anadia