Vendors’ 24-hour trade at market not assured

CEBU, Philippines - Raquel Arce, ex-officio member of the Cebu City Market Authority, said she cannot give assurance to the members of Warwick Barracks Stall Owners and Livelihood Association that they can sell at the Carbon Market anytime.

This after the association appealed to the city government to let them sell temporarily in Sitio Warwick Barracks, Barangay Ermita for 24 hours while waiting for the infrastructure project the city government is aiming to build for them.

At present, vendors who are affiliated with the association can only sell from 6 p.m. until 6 a.m.

“I think, yours truly cannot give that assurance or cannot deny your request because I am not in the position to grant or to deny their request,” Arce said, stressing that the chairperson of the Market Authority is City Administrator Lucelle Mercado.

Association president Perla Eraya voiced out to the City Council yesterday that there are Warwick Barracks fire victims who are selling 24 hours in Carbon Market. But Arce later clarified that they are actually legitimate vendors.

“Ang kanang iyang (WABSOALAI, Inc. ) mga miyembro, mao na ang mosud gawas nga kon moagi ang mga operatives, mosud sa Warwick Barracks. Kon wala na, mogawas, manimpad,” Arce said.

Eraya said they earn less since they cannot sell at the market for 24 hours.

“Unfortunately, after trying to abide by the scheme for several months, we were unable to survive; instead most of us have gone bankrupt,” she said.

City Councilor Alvin Arcilla said that as soon as the ongoing construction of Carbon Market Unit II is finished, the association can possibly sell there.

Presently, Sitio Warwick Barracks is being used as a parking lot.

“We, the Market Authority, intend not to put any structures in the area in order to invite possible partners for the construction of the new Warwick Barracks Market,” said Arce, adding that they are currently conducting a study on the design of the market.  (FREEMAN)