CCUVA hits Carbon eviction proviso

CEBU, Philippines - The Cebu City Vendors Association has opposed the affidavit of undertaking that the market administrator wanted them to sign before they can be allowed to sell their goods at the Carbon Market Complex.

CCUVA president and Ermita Barangay councilwoman Maria Pino-Buanghog said they are opposed to the provision of the undertaking that states that the city government, at its own discretion, can order them to vacate their vending place anytime.

Buanghog described the undertaking as onerous and disadvantageous for the vendors.

“We abide on the policy on wearing an ID to our members as it helps improve the image of Carbon Market as well as the vendors but we impose our opposition on this affidavit of undertaking that they want us to sign,” Buanghog said.

In a letter addressed to Mayor Michael Rama, Buanghog said the vendors comply with the required voter’s certificate to prove that they are really voters of Cebu City and paid P75.00 for their ID including lamination and even the P100 notarial fee.

However, the vendors assailed the affidavit of undertaking that market administrator Racquel Arce wanted them to sign.

Arce explained that the vendors will be the beneficiary of the undertaking since they will have the legal documents that recognize their presence in the market.

Arce said that if the vendors will not sign the undertaking, they will be removed and demolish next month.

Under the agreement, the vendors will be wearing their IDs all throughout their vending time. Another provision of the undertaking, which the vendors have strongly opposed, is that the city can order the vendors to vacate their place anytime.

“I am not a lawyer but in my own understanding, this affidavit of undertaking is oppressive and threatens our right. We know that signing such document is tantamount to killing our self with our own knife,” Buanghog said.

Buanghog is seeking the legal opinion from the mayor and from the city council.

“We will abide by the ID system. There are members who signed the documents because of fear but IDs of our members who did not sign the document was put on hold until the undertaking is signed,” Buanghog added. — /FPL (FREEMAN NEWS)