CEBU CITY, Philippines — While Filipinos across the country commemorated the 128th Philippine Independence Day on Thursday, June 12, vendors and advocates at Carbon Public Market gathered to raise a different call for freedom — one centered on protecting livelihoods and preserving one of Cebu City’s most historic public marketplaces.
At around 9 a.m., dozens of vendors, market workers, and supporters assembled at Carbon Market carrying placards and banners while chanting calls for justice and accountability. The demonstration was aimed at opposing the proposed privatization and redevelopment plans for the centuries-old market, which many fear could threaten the welfare of thousands of families who rely on it for their daily income.
The protesters questioned whether true freedom could be achieved if ordinary workers and small-scale entrepreneurs faced uncertainty over their future, prompting the rallying cry: “Freedom for whom?”
According to participants, the protest was not only about preserving a physical marketplace but also about safeguarding the rights, livelihoods, and economic security of vendors who have long considered Carbon Market their source of sustenance.
Carbon Public Market, regarded as one of Cebu City’s oldest and most iconic trading hubs, has served generations of vendors, farmers, fisherfolk, and consumers. Its ongoing redevelopment has sparked debate among stakeholders, with supporters citing modernization and economic growth, while critics argue that stronger guarantees are needed to protect existing vendors from displacement and loss of opportunities.
During the gathering, demonstrators urged local authorities and concerned agencies to ensure that the voices of vendors are heard in discussions regarding the market’s future. They called for transparency, meaningful consultation, and concrete assurances that public interests would remain a priority throughout any redevelopment process.
The protest highlighted the continuing tensions surrounding the transformation of Carbon Market and reflected broader concerns about balancing urban development with the protection of communities that depend on long-established public spaces for their livelihood.
As the nation celebrated its hard-won independence, Carbon vendors used the occasion to emphasize their own struggle for economic security, dignity, and the right to remain part of the market they have helped sustain for generations.
Photo by: John Togonon, PBB Photographer
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