Vendors at Carbon Public Market on Saturday disputed claims that vendor associations and private groups collect as much as P500 million annually from market vendors, saying the estimate was based on inaccurate assumptions rather than actual market transactions.
During a press conference on June 27, the vendors challenged figures presented during a June 23 executive session of the Cebu City Council, arguing that the projected collections significantly overstated the number of vendors renting market equipment and availing themselves of optional services.
“The public is being made to believe that every ambulant vendor in Carbon is paying P300 to P500 per day to vendors’ associations, and that these associations are allegedly collecting around P500 million per year. This is not true,” the group said in a statement.
The vendors said the estimate assumed that about 3,000 ambulant vendors rent tents, weighing scales and “lantay” or market tables every day, despite data presented during the executive session showing far fewer rental units are actually available.
Citing figures from representatives of private service operators, the group said Carbon Public Market has only about 1,990 lantay, 183 weighing scales and 149 tents available for rent.
“How can 3,000 vendors rent tents when only 149 tents are available? How can 3,000 vendors rent weighing scales when only 183 weighing scales are available?” the statement read.
The vendors also emphasized that not all traders rent equipment or pay for electricity and other optional services every day, making the projected annual collections unrealistic.
The group likewise rejected what it described as the impression that all payments made within the market go to vendor associations.
According to the vendors, payments inside Carbon consist of different charges, including government-imposed market fees, “arkabala,” association dues, rentals for tents, weighing scales and lantay, electricity charges, and other payments for privately provided services.
“These are not the same. They do not go to one collector. They do not have the same purpose. They do not have the same legal basis,” the group said.
The vendors maintained that combining all these payments into a single figure and labeling them as illegal association collections presents an inaccurate picture of how financial transactions are handled inside the market.
Despite disputing the figures, the group said it supports efforts by the city government to examine alleged irregularities in market collections.
“We are not against investigation. In fact, we welcome a fair and honest audit.”
“If there are abuses, investigate them. If there are illegal collections, stop them. If there are service providers without permits, regulate them. If government services are lacking, improve them,” the statement added.
The vendors, however, urged authorities not to rely on what they described as exaggerated estimates that portray vendor leaders and associations as engaging in illegal activities.
They also linked the issue to their continuing opposition to the proposed joint venture agreement (JVA) for Carbon Public Market.
The group argued that alleged collection irregularities should not be used to justify turning over the long-term management of the city’s oldest public market to a private entity.
The vendors noted that while city officials questioned why Cebu City collects only about P160 million annually from Carbon despite claims of higher revenue potential, the proposed JVA would guarantee the city only around P50 million a year during its first 10 years.
“If Carbon truly has huge revenue potential, then the answer should be better public management, not long-term private control,” the statement said.
The group reiterated its support for transparency, accountability and regulation, but called on the city government to distinguish between legitimate government fees, association dues and optional private service payments.
The issue arose during the Cebu City Council’s June 23 executive session after Mayor Nestor Archival raised concerns over alleged unauthorized collections inside Carbon Public Market.
During the hearing, Councilor Alvin Arcilla estimated that various daily fees paid by vendors could amount to nearly P500 million in annual collections.
However, officials from the Office of City Markets clarified that the computation included payments for privately provided services and was not limited to association dues.
Market officials also disclosed that Carbon has 52 vendor associations and that some individuals engaged in equipment rentals admitted they were operating without business permits.
The City Council is now considering measures to regulate vendor associations and market collections, while the Office of City Markets has committed to submitting updated records on vendors, associations and individuals collecting fees within Carbon Public Market.
Photo by LLP
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