LEADERS of the Carbon Vendors' Association welcomed the "one store, one vendor" policy proposed by Cebu City Mayor-elect Nestor Archival.
The policy aims to promote equitable stall distribution within the market.
During a press conference at Freedom Park on Tuesday, June 24, 2025, Erwin Gok-ong, who leads a coalition of vendor groups, expressed their collective approval of Archival's proposal.
"Ang statement (Archival's proposed policy) maghatag og kahigayonan sa uban nga wala kaangkon og stall, nga maka-angkon na," Gok-ong said.
(The statement will give an opportunity to those who currently don’t have a stall to finally have one.)
"Since kami, kanunay nag-advocate sa balaod, di mi mosupak ana. Kung kinsa’y maligsan, so be it. Pero moagi lang og process nga ang mag-implement, dili mo dawat og under the table."
(Since we always advocate for the law, we won’t oppose that. If anyone gets affected, so be it. But the process should be followed, and those implementing it should not accept under-the-table deals.)
Gok-ong assured that vendors do not currently operate multiple stalls.
He clarified that one stall is allocated per nuclear family. He shared his personal experience, stating that he and his mother each have individual stalls, as he now has his own separate family and is no longer considered part of his mother's nuclear family.
Archival first proposed this policy during the All Vendors Forum on Thursday, June 12, which coincided with the 127th Independence Day celebration at the Cebu City Sports Institute in Barangay San Nicolas.
Archival stressed the need for fair stall allocation, noting reports of some vendors occupying multiple stalls and subleasing them. He believes this policy will foster unity among Carbon vendors.
Ann Marie Ariosa, president of Carbon-hanong Alyansa Alang sa Reporma sa Bahandianong Ogma sa mga Nanginabuhi, supported Archival’s proposal, seeing it as a way to curb abuse. She pledged to assist with site inspections to ensure fair allocations. (Jairus Antonio Zoilo Amora, HNU Intern)