Cebu Market Vendors Stage Protest Against Carbon Redevelopment Project
Vendors at the Carbon Public Market in Cebu City have intensified their opposition to the ongoing redevelopment project, staging a rally on Thursday, February 5, 2026. Organized by the Carbonhanong Alliance, the protest moved along MC Briones Extension toward the Interim Market Building in downtown Cebu City, with participants demanding the Cebu City Government halt the Megawide-led joint venture agreement (JVA).
Fears of Privatization and Soaring Costs
The vendor groups argue that the redevelopment effectively privatizes a public utility, leading to steep rental increases that could force small-scale sellers out of business. Erwin Goc-ong, president of the Cebu Market Vendors Multi-purpose Cooperative (Cemvedco), expressed deep concerns, stating vendors are bracing for a projected 300 percent increase in stall rentals over the coming years.
"This is no longer a public market," Goc-ong emphasized in an interview. He criticized the project for transforming Carbon into a "world-class" facility with mall-like rules and costs that are unaffordable for traditional vendors. According to Goc-ong, under amendments to the market code, stall rents are set to rise from P8.50 to P21 per stall in 2026.
New Fees and Operational Changes
The redevelopment is managed through a public-private partnership between the Cebu City Government and Cebu2World Development Inc. (C2W), a subsidiary of Megawide Construction Corp. C2W recently notified Mayor Nestor Archival that it will begin collecting market fees starting Sunday, February 15, 2026.
In a letter dated January 27, C2W stated that the fees apply to regular stallholders and recognized ambulant vendors, citing authorization under the JVA and City Ordinance 2719. The company proposed a three-month transition period to help vendors adjust, but vendors remain wary of additional charges on goods entering the market and strict operating hours.
Goc-ong highlighted that traditional practices, such as using personal carts or bringing in outside ice, may be restricted under the new rules. "These rules are designed for malls, not for a public market where poor vendors sell small volumes just to survive," he argued.
Legal and Political Challenges
Goc-ong also questioned the legality of a private company collecting market rentals, citing the Local Government Code which reserves such authority for local governments. Vendor groups claim the new rules are discriminatory, as they apply only to Carbon Public Market and not other city-run markets.
He praised Vice Mayor Tomas Osmeña for appealing to the Supreme Court to challenge the JVA's validity, agreeing that the agreement is disadvantageous for both vendors and the City Government. The vendors are urging Mayor Archival to repeal the amendments to the Cebu City Market Code and honor campaign commitments to protect marginalized sectors.
Warning to Investors and Future Implications
In a direct appeal to business partners involved in the project, Goc-ong warned that continued opposition could destabilize the venture. He urged investors to reconsider or withdraw their capital, citing "long-term political and social risks" as city administrations change in the future.
The protest underscores growing tensions over urban development in Cebu, with vendors fighting to preserve their livelihoods against modernization efforts that they fear will exclude small entrepreneurs.
