‘No Ramos vendors will be left behind’

CEBU, Philippines — No registered stall owners and/or vendors at the Ramos Public Market in Brgy. Cogon Ramos that will be affected by the conversion of the building into the Cebu City College (CCC) will be left behind.

This is the assurance Market Administrator Robert Barquilla gave yesterday, following a report that there were vendors who feared being displaced.

He said that during their last meeting, the registered vendors already accepted that they have to go and that they understand the City Government’s intention to repurpose structure.

He said the vendors were willing to move out when the time comes, as they have already discussed the matter since last year.

“Wala ra man silay reaction…. Wala man pud tay mahimo kung gamiton sa City ug laing purpose. Ang atoa, ipahiluna ra man pud na nato sila’g tarong kung ganahan sila. Pero kung di pud sila ganahan, wala na pud tay mahimo ana,” Barquilla said.

The City Government has offered to move the vendors to the T. Padilla Public Market, it being the closest to the Ramos Public Market.

Barquilla also said he has not received any report on a commotion inside the market building, but he is not surprised if there was such an incident, as there are always instigators who want to take advantage of the situation.

Natural man na. Natural man gyud nang reklamo, kanang sensitive ra kaayo sa issue ba. Wala sila kahibawo gyud sa mahitabo. Sagad mosakay ana sa issue kanang mga squatter sa gawas, mga standby, mawa pud baya nang ilang panginabuhi diha,” he said.

Barangay Captain Ma. Luisa Besabella likewise denied that there was tension between the vendors and the City Government amid the ongoing construction of the city college.

She said that that although the vendors raised concerns through their representatives, majority of them were cooperative with the relocation.

She said that as of yesterday, there were already 14 vendors who already moved to the other side of the market building because of the construction of the school.

“So far karon, wala may tension,” Besabella said.

“Actually, niari sila nako, ang market representative, kay magpatabang nako. Based sa atong market head sa Ramos, mga istorya pa man gud na nga sa T. Padilla. Mora sila’g nakugang intawon kay kalayo ato, magkalisod-lisod ang panginabuhi,” she added.

Barquilla clarified that there is no advisory yet from the City Government for the current occupants to vacate the area now, so they can continue using the building while construction is ongoing for the school.

“Wala pay advise nga papahawaon na sila. Mawa gyud na sila diha tanan eventually, mawala na ang Ramos Public Market. But, for now, makagamit pa sila,” he said.

“Dugay naman na gisugdan (ang school)…pero, hinay-hinay ra man na nila. Naa ra man sad ang mga vendors, wala pa may advise nga mubalhin na ba,” he added.

Barquilla said there are around 100 vendors in the market and that they all can be accommodated in the T. Padilla Public Market.

“Maigo ra man ni sila kay naa pa may second floor sa T. Padilla (Public Market),” he said.

He further said that for those who already want to move to the new location, they may already do so and that his office would assist them.

“Pwede ra pud nga mamalhin na sila kung gusto nila. Wala man tay problema ana, as long as stallholder sila.  Ato man na sila i-priority.Di man sad na nato sila pasagdan. Atimanon gyud nato na sila,” he said.

Besabella, on the other hand, said she was ready to meet with Mayor Michael Rama, should she be given the chance, to discuss with him the concerns the vendors brought up with her.

She assured that being the barangay captain and her being a former Ramos Public Market vendor herself, she would not be one-sided in the situation.

“Balansehon sad nato kay sila mao ra rasad na ilang panginabuhi, nya kung didto sila sa layo gitangtangan sad sila nato’g panginabuhi,” she said.

A vendor who asked not to be named told The Freeman that they voluntarily vacated the market building due to low income and of the noise coming from the construction of the Cebu City College.

“Naa pa man gihapoy vendors pero gisikit sila’g ayo, gi-compress sila’g maayo. Kay naa may stalls nga walay nigamit so didto sila gipangbutang,” the vendor said.

“Sugod pag ingon nga magsugod na og contruct sa building, mi-pull out mis among stall kay mingaw sad kaayo ‘nya saba pud,” she added.

She clarified that they were not forced to vacate their stalls; rather, it was their personal choice since they were experiencing business loss. — (FREEMAN)