As uncertainty grows over the future of Carbon Public Market, Cebu City Mayor Nestor Archival assured vendors on Thursday that he will not allow the private developer to directly collect their market fees.
During a meeting with vendors, stallholders, and ambulant sellers on February 12, Archival said he had already reviewed guidance from the City Attorney’s Office and clarified his position.
“Ako nalang ni isulti, naa na koy nakit-an gikan sa City Attorney. Dili ko mosugot nga ilang kolektahan. Dili ko mosugot,” the mayor said, referring to Cebu2World Development Inc.’s (C2W) plan to begin collecting market fees.
He clarified that vendors will continue paying the required fees, but these will not be collected by the private developer.
In a statement released Thursday afternoon, Archival said the meeting was intended to directly address vendors’ concerns and ensure transparency.
“Atong gitigom ang mga Carbon Market vendors, ambulant vendors, ug stall holders pinaagi sa Office of the City Market aron mapaminaw pag-ayo ang ilang mga concerns ug matubag kini sa klaro ug husto nga paagi,” he said.
Archival described the dialogue as an opportunity to hear the daily struggles of vendors who keep Carbon Market operational through their hard work.
“Ang Carbon nagpadayon tungod sa kakugi sa atong mga vendors—ang mga tawo nga sayo mobangon ug maningkamot alang sa dakbayan,” he said, emphasizing that development should not come at the expense of livelihoods.
“Gipasabot nato nga ang kalamboan dili dapat mopapas sa panginabuhian. Ang progreso kinahanglan maglakip sa mga vendors nga dugay nang nagpatindog ug nagpalambu sa Carbon,” the mayor added.
C2W, the Megawide subsidiary implementing the Carbon redevelopment under a joint venture agreement with the Cebu City Government, earlier cited provisions of the agreement and amended city ordinances as justification for assuming fee collection.
The proposal has raised concerns among vendor groups, some of whom questioned whether a private company should handle fees in what has traditionally been a public market system.
The issue comes amid ongoing political and legal scrutiny. Vice Mayor Tomas Osmeña filed a petition before the Supreme Court questioning the legality of the joint venture agreement, while some City Council members have called for a review of the contract.
In recent weeks, vendors also staged a silent protest to raise concerns over potential rental increases and operational changes under the modernization plan. (LLP)
