City vows probe on renting of bamboo cots in Carbon

Mayor Tomas Osmeña has promised to investigate the alleged illegal activities of persons who reportedly compel ambulant vendors at the Carbon Public Market to rent bamboo cots or lantays for displaying their goods.

Vendors who refuse to rent the bamboo cots are reportedly prevented by these persons from selling their products on street sides at the Carbon area.

But while Osmeña vowed to go after these people, he also asked the affected ambulant vendors to help in the investigation to “make it easy for investigators to unmask the members of this syndicate that rake in thousands of pesos everyday by renting bamboo lantays to vendors.”

City market administrator Raquel Arce said her office learned of about 10 persons engaged in the renting of lantays to ambulant vendors in Carbon and that these persons already have their own designated areas of operation.

“Angkon-angkon na sila og lugar nga butangan sa ilang mga lantay nga paabangan sa mga tindera. Wala man unta na’y problema kon dili lang pugson kadtong mga tindera nga dili gusto nga mogamit og lantay,” Arce said.

To address the complaint, Arce said she is planning to call for a meeting with the bamboo cot owners so they could be advised not to make it compulsory for vendors to rent their cots.

“Pait kaayo ang among kahimtang uy. Kon mobalibad mi nga dili moabang sa ilang lantay, dili man mi nila patindahon kay gibutangan na kuno nila og lantay. Mapugos g’yod mi pagbayad og P20,” a vegetable vendor said yesterday.

Arce pointed out there is no law or ordinance that requires ambulant vendors to use lantays in selling their products.

Osmeña hopes the affected vendors will cooperate with investigators and will not allow members of the so-called syndicate to intimidate them. — Rene U. Borromeo/MEEV