Mayor says city won’t tolerate allegations: CH probes ‘sale’ of bazaar spots

CEBU, Philippines – Mayor Edgardo Labella has ordered an investigation into allegations that spots at the Cebu Night Bazaar is being sold to vendors not in the list of the city government.

The mayor directed the City Legal Office to look into the matter in coordination with the City Market Authority.

The bazaar opened on December 1 and is expected to last until the Sinulog festivities in January.

It has been reported that there are vendors selling their spots for at least P5,000 and up to P20,000 per month. Reports also have it that some City Hall workers might be behind the anomaly.

Labella said if investigation proves the reports true, these workers will be terminated, especially if they are casual employees.

"We want honest people to be here. There's no room for dishonest people here," Labella said.

Vendors who will be found selling their spots will also be delisted from the city’s list. In the first place, Labella said, they are not allowed to sell their spots.

The city opened the Cebu Night Bazaar this year purposely to accommodate the sidewalk vendors who have been displaced during road clearing operations.

"Ganahan man kaha sila manginabuhi so ato silang gitagaan og kahigayonan (They want to earn a living so we’re giving them a chance)," Labella said.

He said the city government through the Office of the City Administrator is now working on officials of Barangays Parian, Santo Niño, Ermita, and Kalubihan to ensure that no one will take advantage on the predicament of the night market vendors.

Meanwhile, Maria Pino, president of the Cebu City United Vendors Association, Inc. (CCUVA), said she will meet with her members to discuss the issue.

Pino said she also heard of the reports.

"Ganahan gyud ko na maklaro gyud na... kinsa nang mga vendor ang nagpa-abang kay aron mahibaw-an nato kung kinsa gyud nangwarta dihang dapita (I want to clear this up. I want to know who among the vendors are selling their spots)," Pino said.

"Ganahan ko nga dunay tawo nga mobarog nga ilang gipalit, giabangan ang maong pwesto... mogawas sila og kinsa nang mga tawhana ang naghatag o ang nagbaligya. Kinahanglan ta og klarong ebidensya (We need concrete evidence… someone who can tell us that he or she is renting the spot from a vendor)," she added.

CCUVA is helping the City Market Authority in operating the Cebu Night Bazaar. /JMO (FREEMAN)