Carbon modernization project set for revision

CEBU, Philippines —  Some changes will be made under the Carbon Market modernization project including the retention of the Freedom Park and exclusion of the construction of commercial buildings around the area, Cebu City Market Operations Division head Irvin Cabales said.

Megawide Corporation already met with Acting Mayor Michael Rama discussing the changes as proposed by the latter earlier.

Freedom Park will be retained to preserve its historical value and be redeveloped instead.

Along with this, some vendors will also be able to continue selling in the Freedom Park area covering 2,000 square meters including those selling flowers, native products and furniture.

The other vendors who may be affected by the start of the construction of the new market will be moved to another area, by sections or according to the goods they are selling.

Caballes said a series of meetings were already done to address concerns of vendors, regular stall owners, and ambulant ones alike.

There are around 700 regular vendors and over 1600 ambulant vendors under the Freedom Park and Warwick Barracks.

Right now, Caballes said, they are busy checking on the vendors’ permits for proper segregation.

Once the construction pushes through by the end of this month, there will be road closures including Escano and Calderon streets.

Caballes also disclosed that instead of a commercial building around the Freedom Park area, a terminal will be placed instead. The building of a commercial building structure is one of the features that was under protest in the modernization of Carbon Market by some vendors' groups . — Decemay Padilla, KQD (FREEMAN)