Vendors: We will not give up Carbon Market

Carbon Public Market | CDN Digital File Photo 2021

CEBU CITY, Philippines — The Carbon Market vendors are dismayed that the groundbreaking for the Carbon Modernization program will push through on Tuesday, March 23, 2021, despite issues surrounding the joint-venture-agreement (JVA) the city has entered through with Megawide Construction Corporation.

Erwin Goc-ong, the president of the Carbon Market Vendors Development Cooperative (CEMVEDCO), told CDN Digital in a text message that they were surprised that the groundbreaking will push through because he said the negotiations were not over.

Read: Megawide continues talks with Carbon Market vendors

“Kon ila gyud i-dayun, may rally, ug sunod sunod na ang among hiniusang paninguha nga dili madayun ang proyekto ni Megawide. Kon ilang i-dayun, sama na nga ila na mi giduot sa pag consider sa laing daghan options to stop the project,” said Goc-ong.

(If they will push through with the development, there will be a rally, we will consistently carry out unified efforts to stop the project of Megawide. If they push through, it’s just like they’re pushing us to consider other different options to stop the project.)

The vendors said they were given certificates from the Market Operations Division (MOD) as an authentic document for their being registered Carbon Vendors, and they were surprised that Megawide was there, too, and that their logo was in the certificate.

With this, the vendors were already suspicious of the certificates and why Megawide would have the right to issue these to them when the vendors are under the jurisdiction of the city government.

Vice Mayor Michael Rama also told CDN Digital that he will not be attending the groundbreaking as well because of the many issues that still need addressing over the JVA including the plight of the vendors and the preservation of the historical heritage in the area.

The groundbreaking is scheduled at 2 p.m. at the Senior Citizens’ Park.

“I will not be attending in lieu of the fact that I never expected they will push through with the groundbreaking. There are still things to polish, matters [that need to be settled],” said the vice mayor in a phone interview.

Rama said that the issues surrounding the Carbon Market modernization should be settled first before the groundbreaking. He said he has already informed Mayor Edgardo Labella that he will not be going as a sign of his disapproval for the undertaking.

Goc-ong said that their protest will not end on the streets, as he said they will exhaust all options to stop the projects until Megawide respects their wishes on the management of the new market.

“I thought that the negotiations done with officials of the City Hall was done in good faith. It seems, it wasn’t sincere. We already agreed to some of the demands of Megawide but it seems they are one in forcing to implement the project, even without the long process of getting it done,” said Goc-ong.

/bmjo