Starting this Sunday and the succeeding Sundays thereof, the Carbon Market will be closed to shoppers while private vehicles will also be barred from entering the market starting this Monday. | CDN Digital File Photo
CEBU CITY, Philippines — The Carbon Market will be closed to shoppers every Sunday starting August 22, 2021, and to private vehicles starting Monday, August 23, 2021.
The Cebu City Market Operations Division (MOD) announced that these changes will be implemented to help reduce transmission of the COVID-19 in the city.
MOD head, Irvin Cabales, told CDN Digital in a phone interview that the Emergency Operations Center (EOC) has recommended tighter measures in the market because of the many people going to and fro here.
Last year, the market was closed every Sunday as well, and Cabales said the vendors already know the drill.
Carbon Market will close at 8 a.m. on Sundays to 3 a.m. on Mondays.
This will allow the last few vendors on Sundays to clear out after the early morning bagsakan on Sundays and ensure that the morning bagsakan on Mondays will be right on time.
The bagsakan time at dawn is the time allowed for vendors to drop off goods at Carbon and for bulk buyers such as vendors from smaller markets in the city to purchase goods for reselling.
As for the private vehicles not being allowed to enter the vicinity, the MOD said this allows more space for people to walk at the Carbon Market, thereby reducing the chances of crowding.
They noticed that private vehicles parking inside Carbon has caused congestions on the roads.
“Atong icheck next week if mowork ba ni nga system pero naghinaot mi nga mosunod ang mga vendors ug ang mga tawo. Kay kung mosirado atong merkado, ang pinaka apektado atong vendors ug buyers raman sad,” said Cabales.
The set-up will continue as long as the city remains under Modified Enhanced Community Quarantine. /rcg