The conflict between a corporate giant and small ambulant vendors is coming to a head. The former is ramping up efforts for a full takeover of the management of Carbon Public Market. The latter are fighting to keep their means of livelihood in Carbon which, if privatized, will have no place for them. As I write small vendors are scurrying about looking for places to display and sell their goods.
Unfortunately for the vendors, the Cebu City local government unit (LGU) is not on their side. It is in fact the real adversary. It entered into a Joint Venture Agreement (JVA) with a corporate giant without consulting Carbon’s stakeholders, the vendors and the market’s buying public. Next, as stipulated in the JVA, it amended the City’s Market Code and gave its corporate partner the power to determine and collect Carbon’s stall rates and entrance fees. One can only imagine how expensive it would be for small vendors to keep selling in Carbon assuming they can still be accommodated, which is not likely, in a squeaky clean private mall.
To drive the last nail on Carbon’s coffin, Cebu City LGU is rushing to pass a Zoning Ordinance that would reclassify Carbon market from an institutional to a commercial zone. One has to wonder why the outgoing City Council cannot wait for the incoming council to make the final decision after, of course, the required consultation with Carbon’s stakeholders. We, the public, should join small vendors in pushing back on what would lead to Carbon’s shedding of not only its public service orientation but also its heritage value.
Unfortunately again for the vendors, the public they are serving has so far been silent about the prospect of losing a go-to public market for affordable basic goods and commodities. The public seems not to realize that with the full implementation of the JVA, 6,000 or so small ambulant vendors would lose their means of livelihood and the prices of goods will go up if small vendors will at all be allowed to sell there.
But now, fortunately for Carbon vendors, the incoming mayor and vice mayor have been on their side and are expected to continue to support their cause. But these two have their work cut out for them. They have to walk the tight rope that strings between the interests of the City and the interests of the public. They also have a hybrid council to deal with.
What would really help is for the consuming public to get on the side of ambulant vendors and join the clamor for their retention. Households and small businesses like eateries and flower shops that get their supplies from Carbon stand to lose a lot when they have now to buy and sell goods at higher prices.
I find it ironic that Cebu City LGU which is charged with creating employment opportunities and other means of livelihood for its constituents has instead opted to provide more profitable ventures to a corporate giant. Instead of supporting the livelihood initiatives of ambulant Carbon vendors, it is taking them away. Something smells rotten here.