CEBU City Vice Mayor Tomas Osmeña has outlined his priority legislative agenda, which includes scrapping the deal with the Megawide Construction Corp. for the privatization and renovation of Carbon Public Market, as well as amendments to the seven resolutions he described as “pro-Pogo (Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators).
During the inaugural session of the 17th Sangguniang Panlungsod on July 8, 2025, Osmeña emphasized the value of diverse ideas and inclusive governance, urging mutual respect among public officials and constituents.
“I don’t demand your respect,” Osmeña said. “I’m proud to be an ordinary Cebuano,” he added.
He reiterated his opposition to the privatization of the Carbon Public Market and expressed his intent to push for amendments to existing laws in support of the urban poor.
“Megawide must go. The poor is not for sale and helping the poor is not supposed to be a profitable business for the government,” said Osmeña.
“The privatization of Carbon is a betrayal of government’s support for the poor,” he added.
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He lamented the actions of the previous administration in supporting the Carbon redevelopment, describing it as: “The rich has to become richer and the poor to be poorer.”
He said that as a public market, Carbon could not be compared to the big malls in the city as these firms bought their own lots. He then threw the question to Megawide: “Why cannot they do the same?”
Osmeña called for a review of the joint venture agreement in 2021 between the Cebu City Government and Megawide Construction Corp. concerning the renovation and modernization of the Carbon Public Market. This includes the ordinance, which was approved to support the modernization, including the amendments on the Market Code.
Osmeña urged fellow councilors to support his legislative agenda, which he said is aimed at uplifting the lives and protecting the livelihood of the urban poor, particularly Carbon market vendors.
As for the pro-Pogo resolutions, Osmeña will present details of these amendments in the upcoming sessions. / EHP