A forum on the Carbon Public Market Redevelopment was conducted for the women and residents of Sawang Calero and Suba last July 24, 2022 at the gym of Barangay Tabuan, Cebu City.
This was attended by 120 members of the women’s organizations in Sawang Calero and Suba, Cebu City and some men residents of the two barangays.
During the forum, officials of the vendors’ associations in Carbon Market deplored the effects of the demolition of thousands of stalls in Freedom Park and Warwick Barracks starting last July 19, 2022 and their subsequent loss of income.
The demolition is part of the Carbon Public Market privatization project led by the Cebu City Local Government Unit (Cebu LGU), in partnership with Megawide Construction Corporation. The project aims to privatize the biggest and oldest public market in the entire island of Cebu. Cebu City LGU pursued the implementation of the project amid strong opposition from the market vendors and other cause-oriented groups.
The demolition affected 700 stallholders/vendors/space occupants in Freedom Park and Warwick Barracks, most of whom were selling handicrafts and flowers.
The vendors had to transfer to the interim market, but they claimed that the space is too small for their products and it is not accessible to their customers.
There is an ongoing court mediation between the representatives of the stallholders, vendors and space occupants, and the Cebu City Government. Proposals have been made, and there are ongoing talks with the aim of arriving at the most reasonable and least prejudicial agreement for both parties.
During the forum, the participants expressed their hopes that the court mediation will turn out to be favorable to the vendors.
