Mayor, EOC approves return of night market in Cebu City

CEBU, Philippines —  Cebu City Mayor Michael Rama and Emergency Operations Center (EOC) deputy chief implementer and City Councilor Joel Garganera expressed no objection to the return of the night market on Colon Street.

Rama, in yesterday’s press conference at the City Hall, said if there is someone who would be happy to see its return, it will be him.

The night market is the brainchild of Rama.

“If you're asking me (go signal for the return of the night market), that’s my brain, my baby, so why not? But, they could not have their cake and eat it too.They should show the proof, because I do not want to open that night market pagkahuman, siraduhan..I do not want the night market nga ang focus sila ra,” said Rama.

However, Rama said, he is yet to see the details of the proposal.

Based on the proposal disclosed by Prevention, Restoration, Order, Beautification, and Enhancement (PROBE) head Raquel Arce, the vendor's groups said they will be implementing strict health and safety measures.

The proposal also highlights the vaccination status of vendors, saying only fully-vaccinated vendors will be allowed to display.

Garganera, for his part, said night market is even safer compared to the malls as it is not enclosed.

“Regarding night market, actually it's a lot better and safer compared to the malls.  It’s open air,” said Garganera.

Stalls, however, need to be set up at a safe distance from one another.

“We just need to put the stalls not close to each other, managed the observance of the health protocol from the organizer themselves,” said Garganera.

The EOC Task Force composed of Cebu City Business Permit and Licensing Office, PROBE, Philippine National Police, and the barangays will be monitoring the night market.

Aside from that, the vendor's groups are also expected to get the nod from the city’s traffic office for the traffic flow and re-routing as well as sanitation, garbage disposal, safety, and security measures.

Rama also said it is not only the night market that they are looking at re-opening but a whole lot more activities, with the vaccination status as the top consideration.

“As  I said, managabli..ablihan ang tanan, bsta ang tanan nabakunahan,” said Rama. — Decemay Padilla, KQD (FREEMAN)