Cebu City vendors told: Regulate prices of goods

CEBU, Philippines — Cebu City market administrator Robert Barquilla has assured that they will strengthen monitoring of prices and the situation in different public markets in the city, particularly around the time of Palarong Pambansa 2024.

This is to address concerns that vendors may take advantage of the expected surge of visitors this month due to the Palarong Pambansa and might increase the prices of the goods they are selling.

In an interview with The Freeman, Barquilla said he already told their operation team to closely monitor and check the prices around public markets especially in Carbon Market.

“Nag-advice nako sa operation team nako sa market to closely monitor and check the prices especially around Carbon market from wet market, grocery items, fruits and vegetable section,” Barquilla said.

Stall owners caught taking advantage and unreasonably increasing their sold products will be dealt with accordingly.

Stall owners could be penalized to as high as a three-month rental equivalent while ambulant vendors will be suspended from selling around the public market. Stall rental per month depends on the size of their stall, but usually, they are pegged at P5,000 per month.

Barquilla also said he has told vendors to show visitors Cebuanos’ hospitality.

Barquilla also considers giving free vegetables, among others, to the Palarong Pambansa delegates just like what they have been doing in their mobile kitchen. He said he will call a meeting concerning this.

Further, Barquilla said they also continue to monitor vendors including ambulant ones on the use of defective or rigged weighing scales.

Even without the Palaro, Barquilla said the Operation Timbangan has not stopped their monitoring as well.

“Ongoing ato Operation Timbangan,” Barquilla said.

So far, 90 weighing scales have been confiscated by the OCM via Operation Timbangan.-  ATO (CEBU NEWS)