City wants to meet night market vendors

CEBU, Philippines — Cebu City Mayor Edgardo Labella is directing city administrator Floro Casas to sit down with all concerned stakeholders before the operation of the city’s night market will resume.

He said he wants to ensure that the operation of night market is orderly and that it will not be monopolized.

"It is my position that stakeholders must be given an opportunity, no one should take advantage of the other stakeholders, so I'm tasking Atty. Casas to sit down with the stakeholders before we resume," Labella said.

The present administration wanted to iron things out before the implementation of the night market which has been a program of the city government for several years.

Among of the discussion will be street vending policies, contributions to the city's coffers, and other related matters.

"I do not want that one or some will monopolize, it should be every stakeholder will be fairly given an opportunity," Labella said.

Prevention, Restoration, Order, Beautification and Enhancement (PROBE) head Raquel Arce said they had scheduled a meeting with the concerned vendors yesterday, but due to the prior commitments of Labella it was rescheduled based on the availability of the mayor.

She said she received an order from Casas that the mayor wants to talk directly to the vendors.

Arce said the city government will not allow the at least 300 vendors to hold the night market without proper discussion with the executive department.

She said there will be no major changes in the implementation scheme of the night market. Vendors still have to secure all the necessary permits from the city government and other concerned offices.

"Gi-require sila sa market administrator to get special permit sa treasurer's office and barangay clearance from Barangay Sto. Niño," Arce said.

The collection of the arcabala will start a week after the official opening of the night market, according to Arce.

She also said an identification card system will be enforced so that vendors will be organized and for monitoring purposes.

Those who will be registered have one month to sell their merchandise in the night market. After a month, they will renew their contract with the city government.

The proposed location of the night market will be the Colon Street from City Savings Bank up to the Colon monument. Arce said Cebu City Transportation Office already gave the go signal, saying it will not hamper the traffic flow.

The night market will be from 6 p.m. until midnight. There is still no specific date when the night market will start. However, during the previous administration, it started every late December until after the Sinulog festivities in January. — BRP (FREEMAN)